CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the funding of church repairs; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell: I regularly speak with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer about a range of church issues. On the issue of church repairs, we continue to engage with all levels of Government and press for the great contribution that churches and cathedrals make to their communities and the whole nation to be better reflected in the funds they receive from the state.
	We were therefore very pleased that the Chancellor announced in his Budget statement that he and the Culture Secretary would in the run up to the Spending Review examine the help which Government could give to the churches.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Communities England

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been allocated for the annual  (a) administrative costs and  (b) total budget of Communities England.

Ruth Kelly: Communities England is expected to combine over £4 billion of public spending on housing and regeneration annually. This estimate is based on current budgets, with the final budget to be agreed as part of CSR07.

Compensation Payments

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 365W, on compensation payments, on what dates the damage to the hire vehicles occurred; what divisions of the Department hired the vehicles; what the purpose was of hiring the vehicles; and how the damage occurred.

Ruth Kelly: These compensation payments, made by the Communities and Local Government predecessor—Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM)—relate to incidents which occurred on 30 July 2004, 17 February 2005 and 3 March 2005. The vehicles involved were hired by the ODPM's Local Government Beacon Councils Team, its Counselling Support Service and the Eastern Rent Assessment Panel for use in the normal course of business. The incidents involved damage to a bumper as a consequence of a vehicle being reversed into a post, damage incurred following a collision with another vehicle and a broken windscreen.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the amount of uncollected council tax in England in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The amount of council tax uncollected in England, in each of the last five years, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Amount not collected (£ million)  Amount not collected as percentage of net collectable debit 
			 1993-94 n/a 7.4 
			 1994-95 n/a 6.6 
			 1995-96 n/a 5.5 
			 1996-97 n/a 4.7 
			 1997-98 428 4.5 
			 1998-99 463 4.4 
			 1999-2000 507 4.4 
			 2000-01 518 4.2 
			 2001-02 518 3.9 
			 2002-03 531 3.6 
			 2003-04 582 3.5 
			 2004-05 594 3.4 
			 2005-06 592 3.2 
		
	
	The figures in the table show the amount of council tax in respect of the financial year not collected in that year. The final column shows this figure as a percentage of the net collectable debit in respect of that year's council taxes—i.e. the income authorities would collect if everyone liable paid, net of estimated receipts of council tax benefit.
	Collection of council taxes continues once the financial year to which they relate has ended. This means that the amount not collected will eventually be lower than the figure shown above, and the final amount not collected as a percentage of net collectable debit will be somewhere between the figures shown here and zero. The data are as reported on QRC4 forms submitted by all billing authorities to Communities and Local Government each year.

Departmental Meetings

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1352W, on departmental meetings, if she will place in the Library a copy of the documentation produced  (a) for and  (b) by the stakeholder representatives at the meeting on 1 November 2006.

Ruth Kelly: Information relating to internal discussion is not normally disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of discussion between Ministers, advisers and stakeholders.

Departments: Publicity

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements and  (b) advertorials in newspapers or other publications in the latest year for which figures are available; and what the topic was of each publication.

Angela Smith: Where costs for supplements and advertorials are available they are as shown.
	The Department has undertaken advertising and advertorials for the Home Information Pack take up campaign but the disaggregated costs could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Local E-Gov Take-Up campaign aimed at encouraging citizens to make greater use of on-line council services. There were two phases of advertising in 2006-07. The total spend across both phases was £1.6 million. Of this  (a) £24,000 was spent on supplements and on  (b) £193,580 was spent on advertorials.
	The Female Fire Fighter Awareness campaign aimed at encouraging women to consider the Fire and Rescue Service as a viable career option. There was one burst of advertising in 2006-07. The total spend was £800,000. Of this  (a) £5,000 was spent on advertorials and  (b) £93,255 was spent in women's press titles.
	The Fire Safety campaign aimed at reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries. Of the total spend of £3.3 million, the spend on advertorials was £6,860 that ran in the BME media.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many people in her Department and its predecessor participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in her Department and its predecessor who undertook  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98, were paid between (i) £0 to £25,000, (ii) £25,001 to £50,000, (iii) £50,001 to £75,000, (iv) £75,001 to £100,000 and (v) over £100,000; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: For details of the staff exit schemes run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and its main predecessor (the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) I refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer of 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1785W.
	Details of the numbers of staff in the department and its main predecessor (the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) exiting under these schemes, together with information on the lump sums payable to them on exit are set out as follows.
	
		
			Number undertaking exit schemes by compensation lump sum amounts 
			   Scheme  Total  £0 to £25,000  £25,001 to £50,000  £50,001 to £75,000  £75,001 to £100,000  Over £100,000 
			 2005-06 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: voluntary scheme 97 60 15 18 0 4 
			 2006-07 Communities and Local Government: voluntary scheme 155 76 33 20 19 7 
			 2006-07 Government offices for the regions: voluntary scheme 106 59 21 17 3 6 
			 2006-07 Communities and Local Government—Marchington: involuntary scheme (1)34 25 5 3 1 0 
			 Total  392 220 74 58 23 17 
			 (1) Of which 21 were voluntary exits and 13 involuntary exits. 
		
	
	The compensation paid is calculated using the Civil Service Compensation Scheme rules and is based on the category of exit (voluntary, involuntary, severance or retirement), age, years of eligible service and grade/pay band in the Department.
	Numbers are grouped by compensation lump sum amounts received at exit. Each leaver departing after their 50th birthday is also eligible for a monthly compensation amount until they reach normal retirement age (age 60). The monthly compensation amount is based upon, but not equal to, the monthly pension payment in normal retirement.

Departments: Temporary Employment

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department and its predecessor spent on temporary staff in 2005-06; and how many individual staff were employed on a temporary basis.

Ruth Kelly: In 2005-06 the Department and its predecessor spent just over £2.34 million on salaries for 166 casual staff and 17 staff appointed on fixed term contracts of less than one year. Over the same period payments were made to agency employees, but the extraction of this information would be at disproportionate cost.

Fire Stations: Rayleigh Weir

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the new fire station at Rayleigh Wier to be operational.

Angela Smith: Construction of the new fire station at Rayleigh Wier is expected to be completed by mid-2009 when the commissioning process will begin with a view to the fire station becoming operational by the end of 2009.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the average cost of a home information pack (HIP); what factors will determine the  (a) cost and  (b) price of a HIP; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The price of a home information pack will be set by the market, not by Government. The main components affecting costs are the searches and the energy performance certificate. Searches are already paid for in housing transactions at the moment and their cost varies substantially from area to area. Energy performance certificates are the only new element and could save buyers hundreds of pounds in fuel bills as well as having the potential to help them get access to green mortgages or grants from utility companies for energy saving improvements.
	The price of HIPs will also be affected by the level of competition and economies of scale as well as factors such as the size and type of the property. At least one estate agent has said it will provide HIPs for free and others will provide them on a 'no sale, no fee' basis.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the requirement for home information packs will apply to homes put on the market prior to 1 June 2007 but whose sales have not reached completion before that date.

Ruth Kelly: Properties put on the market before 1 June 2007 will not be required to obtain a home information pack unless they remain on the market after 31 December.

Housing Data Warehouse

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1354W, on the Housing Data Warehouse, whether the data provided by the Valuation Office Agency include  (a) address data,  (b) names of the residents,  (c) banding data on individual properties and  (d) dwelling house code and value significant code data;
	(2)  what the purpose is of the Housing Data Warehouse; how much has been allocated to it for 2007-08; and which Government agencies and Departments will have access to it.

Ruth Kelly: The data provided by the Valuation Office Agency are limited to the address and council tax banding of domestic properties.
	For the purpose of the Housing Data Warehouse I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1571W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles).
	There is no specific allocation for the Housing Data Warehouse in 2007-08 as the running costs are contained within existing resources.
	Only Communities and Local Government has direct access to the Housing Data Warehouse. There are no plans to extend direct access to other Government agencies or Departments. Specific requests for data from other Government agencies and Departments would be considered on a case by case basis and with regard to the need to avoid disclosure of personal information.

IPPR

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding the Government Office for  (a) London and  (b) the North East has provided to (i) the IPPR and (ii) IPPR Trading Ltd in each year since May 1997; and for what purpose.

Ruth Kelly: The Government Office for London used IPPR's services in 2004-05 when a member of staff attended an event organised by the company. The event was called "New challenges for race equality and community cohesion in the 21(st) century", which took place on 7 July 2004 and the cost of attendance was £58.75 including VAT. Other than that, the Government Office for London and the Government Office for the North East have not made any payments to IPPR or IPPR Trading Ltd through running cost or ODPM/CLG programme funding.
	Financial records prior to 2003-04 are held on a different records system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Local Authorities: Newspaper Press

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what matters local authorities have statutory obligations to place notices in local newspapers.

Ruth Kelly: We do not hold centrally, information on matters for which local authorities have statutory obligations to place notices in local newspapers.

Local Government

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written statement of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 71-73WS, on local government, what recent assessment she has made of the structure of local government across the whole of Lancashire.

Phil Woolas: The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the structure of local government across the whole of Lancashire other than those announced in my written statement of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 71-73WS.

Local Government

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written statement of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 71-73WS, on local government, what her assessment was of the joint bid for unitary status made by Burnley and Pendle borough councils against each of the five criteria.

Phil Woolas: The Department's assessment against all five criteria, including affordability and value for money, are set out in Burnley and Pendle borough councils' decision letter of 27 March 2007. This is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/137/DecisionletterPendleandBurnleyBoroughCouncils_id1509137.pdf

Local Government Executive

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the average effect on local government election turnout of an elected mayoral system being established in  (a) the first year and  (b) subsequent years.

Ruth Kelly: We have made no estimate of this. Details of local government election turnout each year in the 12 mayoral authorities since those authorities adopted mayors can be found in the Local Government Chronicle Election Handbook, published by university of Plymouth.

Local Government Finance: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level was of central Government grant to local government for social services in Chorley's local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The level of central Government formula grant to Lancashire county council which covers the Chorley area for services (including social services) for 2007-08 is £232.482 million (increase of £10.165 million or 4.6 per cent.). Formula grant is not hypothecated and decisions on how it is used are made locally. In addition, the Department has made available £33.714 million in respect of personal social services grants.

Local Government Reform

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1354W, on local government reform, whether local authorities which are not small districts but which adopted a committee structure as a fallback option after the executive model was voted down, will be allowed to continue with a committee structure.

Ruth Kelly: The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill provides that any authority currently operating alternative arrangements must move to executive arrangements where the resident population of the authority's area on 30 June 1999 was 85,000 or more.

Local Government: Training

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department is still supporting the Future Leadership programme.

Ruth Kelly: The Future Leadership hip programme was commissioned as an investment in leadership capacity in order to raise the long-term performance of local government. Since 2004, 353 people from across local government have completed the programme. In 2006-07 and 2007-08 a total of £3.5 million has been provided to regional improvement partnerships by the Department to enable them to purchase places on a suite of capacity-building programmes including the Future Leadership programme.

Population: Slough

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individual written representations she has received about the statistics of the population of Slough; and how many of those were pre-printed postcards.

Phil Woolas: Since November 2005, the Department has received 28 written representations that contain, in part or in full, issues relating to the population statistics for Slough.
	In addition, since January 2007, the Department has received 86 pre-printed postcards and newsletter cut out response slips about the population statistics for Slough.

Sir Michael Lyons: Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been paid to Sir Michael Lyons in expenses in relation to his work on his inquiry into local government.

Ruth Kelly: Since he started work on his inquiry in the autumn of 2004 Sir Michael has so far been paid expenses of £21,039.16 plus VAT. He is expected to submit a further claim relating to the final few months of his work.

Travelling People

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of unauthorised Gypsy Traveller caravans on unauthorised  (a) developments and  (b) encampments.

Meg Munn: The Department for Communities and Local Government publishes data on the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans on authorised public and private sites, and unauthorised encampments and developments twice yearly. Copies of the latest publication "Count of Gypsy Caravans on 19 July 2006: Last Five Counts" have been distributed to the Libraries of the House. An electronic version is also available on the Department's website at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1153575

Valuation Office: Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much funding her Department and its predecessor has provided to the Valuebill project since its inception; and how much will be provided in the next 12 months;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the rollout of the Valuebill project; and how many local authorities are participating in Valuebill.

Ruth Kelly: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister allocated £2,660,950 of start up funding to the Valuebill project between 2002 and 2005 through the local e-government national projects programme. No further funding has been provided by my Department since then or will be provided in the next twelve months.
	Lead responsibility for Valuebill rested initially with the London borough of Newham and now rests with London Connects. My Department does not hold information on the number of local authorities who are currently making use of Valuebill or when and if others may participate in the project. We are however aware of positive outcomes in participating authorities in terms of improved address data and the more timely billing, improved cash flow and reduced debt chasing that flows from that.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Aid

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how her Department's plans to reform the legal aid system reflect the advice contained in the Otterburn report on criminal legal aid.

John Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to reform the legal aid system to reflect the recommendations contained in the Otterburn report on criminal legal aid.

Vera Baird: The Government presented their plans for legal aid reform on 28 November last year.
	The reform programme took account of over 2,000 responses to consultation, over 25 meetings which I had personally with legal aid practitioners as well as the conclusions of Mr. Otterburn's report to the LSC.
	In the light of everything that was presented to us the Government made changes to the timing, sequencing and detail of a number of Lord Carter's original recommendations for legal aid reform.
	The Government continue to consider and to take into account all evidence and consultation responses as we move forward on the detailed elements of our reform programme.

Legal Aid

John Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of trends in the number of cases brought by offenders with custodial sentences which attract legal aid; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The eligibility for legal aid of those serving custodial sentences is no different from other members of society. Individuals will be eligible for legal aid if the matter is within scope and the individual satisfies the means test. There is therefore no specific monitoring of cases brought by those serving custodial sentences.
	However, some form of legal aid is available exclusively to those serving custodial sentences. This is to cover advocacy assistance at prison discipline hearings and parole board hearings. The volume of cases where advice and assistance has been provided has risen from 11,263 in 2002-03 to 20,186 in 2005-06.

Legal Aid

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she next plans to meet representatives of the legal profession to discuss proposed changes to legal aid.

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she next plans to meet representatives of the legal profession to discuss proposed changes to legal aid.

Vera Baird: My Department and the Legal Services Commission regularly meet with legal aid practitioners as part of the ongoing consultations on the detail of implementation, and to discuss aspects of the reform programme.

Legal Aid

Lyn Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received on the eligibility for legal aid in criminal cases.

Vera Baird: Since the introduction of the new means test for criminal legal aid representation in the magistrates courts, which came into effect on 2 October 2006, I have received approximately 75 written representations from MPs, solicitors and members of the public, about eligibility for criminal legal aid.

Magistrates Courts

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what change is planned to the number of magistrates courts in 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: There are 360 magistrates courts in England and Wales. We are currently reviewing the provision of courts across England and Wales to consider access to justice, the most efficient use of public monies and the condition and facilities within courthouses.

Electoral Register

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will take steps to place a duty on electoral registration officers to use all available databases to compile the electoral register.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 introduced a new duty to help Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) increase registration rates and compile a more accurate register. This duty includes:
	Sending the annual canvass form more than once to any address;
	Making house to house inquiries on one or more occasions; and
	Inspecting any records that the ERO is permitted to inspect, such as council tax and housing databases.
	And the good news for democracy is that the new duty is making a difference. I am pleased to say that as of 1 December 2006, the number of registered electors in the UK has increased by just over half a million.

Mediation

Kali Mountford: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to encourage parents to go to mediation instead of court to resolve disputes over their children.

Harriet Harman: The Government are committed to encouraging greater use of family mediation. We have established the Family Mediation Helpline and supporting website, sponsored a public awareness campaign, are facilitating judicial awareness seminars and supporting in-court referral schemes.
	Provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 will enable the court to direct parties in child contact disputes to attend a meeting about mediation. Referrals will also be encouraged through changes to court rules and court forms, particularly in relation to disputes over children.

Constitutions: Channel Islands

Ian Gibson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Channel Islands are part of the United Kingdom; and what their constitutional status is.

Bridget Prentice: The Channel Islands are not part of the United Kingdom. They are self-governing dependencies of the Crown, which—acting through its Privy Council—is responsible for their good governance. The UK is responsible for their defence and international relations, but the Channel Islands have their own directly elected legislative assemblies, administrative and fiscal systems and courts of law, and UK legislation does not apply to them unless specifically extended.

Constitutions: Channel Islands

Ian Gibson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what rights and responsibilities are enjoyed by the Channel Islands under the terms of their relationship with the EU under Protocol 3 of the UK's treaty of accession.

Bridget Prentice: Under Protocol 3 of the UK's Treaty of Accession, the Channel Islands are part of the customs territory of the European Union. Consequently, the common customs tariff, levies and agricultural import measures apply to trade between the Islands and non-member countries. There is free movement of goods between the Islands and the member countries. Other Community Rules do not generally apply.

Constitutions: Channel Islands

Ian Gibson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what rights and responsibilities are enjoyed by the Channel Islands under the terms of their relationship with the UK.

Bridget Prentice: The UK is constitutionally responsible for the defence and international representation of the Channel Islands. The Channel Islands make annual voluntary contributions towards the cost. As a more general principle, the Channel Islands have a right to respect for their autonomy in domestic affairs and a responsibility to give all reasonable assistance and co-operation to the UK in the exercise of its domestic and international responsibilities. The UK in turn has a right to expect this co-operation, and a responsibility to give all reasonable assistance to the Islands, and to respect their autonomy and work for its preservation. The most recent statement of the relationship between the UK and the Channel Islands is to be found in Part XI of Volume 1 of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution (1973).

Courts: Pay

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the rate of local court staff turnover following implementation of the new pay system, broken down by region.

Harriet Harman: The ongoing negotiations with the Trade Unions address a range of important issues, including how the new pay system will better enable the department to retain court staff. I will write to my right hon. Friend once the negotiations have been concluded.

Departments: Pressure Groups

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what meetings took place between Ministers in her Department and outside interest groups between 1 January and 31 March; and what the date of each such meeting was.

Harriet Harman: Ministers in my Department meet a large number of people and groups in the course of their official duties. Between 1 January and 31 March 2007 these have included:
	
		
			  Date  Group  Minister(s) 
			 8 January 2007 Which? Baroness Ashton 
			 8 January2007 The Bar Council Baroness Ashton 
			 8 January 2007 The Law Society Regulation Board Baroness Ashton 
			 9 January 2007 National Association of Guardians Ad Litem and Reporting Officers Harriet Harman 
			 11 January 2007 Co-operative Legal Services Bridget Prentice 
			 15 January 2007 Support After Murder and Manslaughter Lord Falconer and Harriet Harman 
			 15 January 2007 Muttons Solicitors Vera Baird 
			 16 January 2007 National Youth Advocacy Service Harriet Harman 
			 17 January 2007 Mind; Mencap; Age Concern; Help the Aged; Royal College of Psychiatrists; English Community Care Association; Turning Point; National Autistic Society; Mental Health Foundation; Registered Nursing Home Association; Mental Health Alliance Baroness Ashton 
			 18 January 2007 Liberty Baroness Ashton 
			 18 January 2007 Four Communications Baroness Ashton 
			 24 January 2007 The Next Step Foundation Bridget Prentice 
			 24 January 2007 National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Lord Falconer 
			 25 January 2007 General Medical Council; Age Concern; carers UK; Alzheimer's Society; ResCare; British Medical Association; Royal College of Psychiatrists; Mental Health Foundation; Mencap; Motor Neurone Disease Baroness Ashton 
			  Association; National Advisory Group on Learning Disabilities and Ethnicity; National Autism Society; Mind  
			 29 January 2007 The Bar Council Lord Falconer 
			 30 January 2007 Allen and Overy; Berwin Leighton Paisner; Clifford Chance; DLA Freshfields; Herbert Smith; Linklaters; Norton Rose; Slaughter and May; Simmons and Simmons; Pinsent Masons; Law Society; Bar Council; College of Law; The Sutton Trust Lord Falconer 
			 30 January 2007 UK Joint Economic Trade Committee Baroness Ashton 
			 5 February2007 The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys; The Chartered Institute of Paten Attorneys; AS Biss and Co Baroness Ashton 
			 6 February 2007 Association of Chief Police Officers Lord Falconer 
			 12 February 2007 Commission for Equality and Human Rights Lord Falconer 
			 19 February 2007 Fathers for Justice Harriet Harman 
			 20 February 2007 British Youth Council; The Electoral Commission; The Hansard Society; X-Change; National Children's Bureau; English Secondary School Association Bridget Prentice 
			 20 February 2007 Society of Editors Baroness Ashton 
			 21 February 2007 Law Society Solicitors' Regulation Authority; Law Society Legal Complaints Service Bridget Prentice 
			 21 February 2007 Eaves Housing Lord Falconer 
			 22 February 2007 The Electoral Commission Lord Falconer and Bridget Prentice 
			 22 February 2007 UK Joint Economic Trade Committee; Arlington Aharma Solicitors Baroness Ashton 
			 22 February 2007 Rights and Humanity Baroness Ashton 
			 26 February 2007 Standing Together against Domestic Violence Harriet Harman 
			 26 February 2007 The Financial Times Baroness Ashton 
			 26 February 2007 The Telegraph Group Lord Falconer 
			 27 February 2007 The Council of Europe Bridget Prentice 
			 27 February 2007 The Guardian; The Independent; The Evening Standard; The Sunday Times; The Sunday Telegraph; The Daily Telegraph Baroness Ashton 
			 28 February 2007 The Law Commission Vera Baird 
			 28 February 2007 Coventry Youth Group Bridget Prentice 
			 1 March 2007 Legal Services Ombudsman Bridget Prentice 
			 5 March 2007 BBC; The Independent; ITN; Reuters; The Financial Times; The Guardian; Periodical Publishers Association; The Times Baroness Ashton 
			 7 March 2007 Four Communications Baroness Ashton 
			 8 March 2007 Bar Standards Board Bridget Prentice 
			 8 March 2007 Which? Bridget Prentice 
			 12 March 2007 ITN Harriet Harman 
			 12 March 2007 Law Centres Federation Vera Baird 
			 12 March 2007 Co-operative Insurance Services Vera Baird 
			 15 March 2007 Master of the Faculties; The Institute of Trademark Attorneys; The Association of Law Costs Draftsmen; Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner; The Council for Licensed Conveyancers; Consumer Complaints Board; The Bar Standards Board; The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys; The Bar Council; The Solicitors Regulation Authority; The Law Society Bridget Prentice 
			 19 March 2007 The Coroners Society Harriet Harman 
			 19 March 2007 Clifford Chance; UK Joint Economic Trade Committee Baroness Ashton 
			 19 March 2007 Citizens Advice Vera Baird 
			 20 March 2007 Imkaan Baroness Ashton 
			 21 March 2007 Parliamentary Education Unit Bridget Prentice 
			 23 March 2007 Ashiana Baroness Ashton 
			 26 March 2007 Co-operative Legal Services Bridget Prentice 
			 26 March 2007 Bristol City College Student Group Bridget Prentice 
			 26 March 2007 The Guardian Baroness Ashton 
			 27 March 2007 The Law Society; The Bar Council Bridget Prentice and Baroness Ashton 
			 27 March 2007 The National Governors' Association Baroness Ashton 
			 27 March 2007 NHS Confederation Baroness Ashton 
			 28 March 2007 Himat Baroness Ashton 
			 28 March 2007 Interights Baroness Ashton 
			 28 March 2007 Equal Opportunity Commission; Amnesty; Employers Forum on Age; Employers Forum in Belief; Fawcett Society; Gender Trust; Help the Aged; Men's Aid; Opportunity Now; Runnymede Trust; Women's National Commission Vera Baird 
			 12 April 2007 Liberty Baroness Ashton

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people in her Department and its predecessor participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The information is as follows:
	 (a) There have been no involuntary staff exit schemes since 1997-98.
	 (b) The number of employees who have taken voluntary early departure since 1997-98 is set out in the following table. These figures are for the period 1 April to 31 March.
	
		
			   Early Retirement  Early Severance 
			 1997 118 251 
			 1998 24 45 
			 1999 3 0 
			 2000 2 1 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 
			 2003 0 0 
			 2004 3 1 
			 2005 3 1 
			 2006 76 58

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people in her Department and its predecessor who participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98 were paid between (i) £0 to £25,000, (ii) £25,001 to £50,000, (iii) £50,001 to £75,000, (iv) £75,001 to £100,000 and (v) over £100,000; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The information is as follows:
	 (a) There have been no payments made in respect of involuntary staff exit schemes since 1997-98.
	 (b) Information about redundancy costs for staff who left between 1997 and 2005 is not held centrally since departures were managed and funded locally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information is available for the voluntary early departure schemes that were undertaken during 2006 to contribute towards the Department's Gershon efficiency target. This information is set out in the following table. These costs relate to the cost to the department which are higher than the payments individuals leaving on early retirement terms receive, as the department is liable for the cost of enhancement to pension and the cost of early payment of the lump sum.
	
		
			  April 2006-March 2007 
			   Early Retirement  Early Severance 
			 £0 to £25,000 16 14 
			 £25,001 to £50,000 9 12 
			 £50,001 to £75,000 12 10 
			 £75,001 to £100,000 10 10 
			 Over £100,000 29 12

Lord Chancellor's Department: Official Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many functions have taken place at a cost to the public purse in the Lord Chancellor's official residence since the Lord Chancellor took up residence; and what the occasion was of each function which incurred a cost to the public purse.

Harriet Harman: Since taking up residence on 11 October 2006, there have been 16 official functions at a cost to the public purse. All functions comply with section 4.2 of the Ministerial Code.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Olympic Games

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the amount to be paid by taxpayers outside London towards the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 15 March 2007 where I set out that up to £6.0 billion (including £2.7 billion of programme contingency funding) was being provided from the Exchequer to support the Olympic park, infrastructure and regeneration. This includes around £840 million to meet the Olympic Delivery Authority's liability for value added tax.

Olympic Games

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the annual expenditure profile is of the revised Olympics budget.

Tessa Jowell: This will be detailed in the Olympic Delivery Authority's Corporate Plan which they are currently developing and which they plan to publish by the end of the summer.

Olympic Games

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of the additional funding for elite athletes for the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012 since it was announced in the 2006 Budget.

Richard Caborn: The additional funding for elite sport, which was made available from 1 April last year, has enabled UK Sport to increase significantly the level of support for all Olympic and Paralympic sports (except football and tennis). In particular, it has allowed UK Sport to support those Olympic and Paralympic sports which had not previously received any high performance investment, including hockey, volleyball and handball.
	While it is too soon to link the additional investment to recent successes, it is clear that this enhanced level of support is beginning to bear fruit. For example, since the additional investment was made available:
	11 out of 12 sports with performance medal targets for their major championship either met or exceeded their medal count, agreed with UK Sport.
	In the 11 sports which competed at world championship level in 2006, 23 medals were won in Olympic disciplines, including six world champions.
	Particular successes include the British Paralympic swimming team, which came first in the medal table in the 2006 IPC World Swimming Championships in South Africa, and the British cycling squad who finished top of the medal table at the recent UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Mallorca, winning a total of 11 medals, seven of which were gold. Team GB also came first in the medal table at the 29th European Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham with a haul of 10 medals, including four golds.
	UK Sport's investment strategy is also having a major impact on the professionalism and governance of British Olympic and Paralympic sports. At the time of the Budget announcement, UK Sport introduced a series of 'Funding Triggers' aimed at ensuring that the National Governing Bodies are all 'fit for purpose' to receive public funding and that the sport is able to deliver its agreed targets.

Television: Broadcasting Reception

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the account taken of the impact of new development on television reception in the planning system.

Shaun Woodward: holding answer 16 April 2007
	There has been no recent discussion with the Department for Communities and Local Government on this matter.
	Guidance to local planning authorities on this issue can be found in Planning Policy Guidance 8 (PPG 8): Telecommunications and is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government. This is supplemented by guidance available from the BBC, Ofcom and the transmission operators.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Discharges

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outflow was from the regular Army for each year since 2001, broken down by  (a) rank of officer and  (b) other ranks.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Army UK regular forces outflow( 1)  from trained strength to civil life by rank and financial year 
			  Number/percentage 
			   2001 - 02  2002 - 03  2003 - 04  2004 - 05  2005 - 06 
			   Number  Rate( 2)  Number  Rate( 2)  Number  Rate( 2)  Number  Rate( 2)  Number  Rate( 2) 
			  Army  9,990  10.4  9,670  10.0  9,570  9.7  10,740  108  10,500  10.7 
			
			  Officers  900  7.0  800  6.1  780  5.8  900  6.6  980  7.1 
			 Brigadier and above 40 14.8 30 12.9 30 12.7 30 12.5 20 10.5 
			 Colonel 60 12.2 60 10.0 40 7.6 60 10.3 80 13.0 
			 Lieutenant Colonel 150 9.0 150 8.7 150 8.8 150 8.5 160 9.5 
			 Major 330 7.4 290 6.3 280 5.9 320 6.8 340 7.0 
			 Captain 290 6.9 260 5.9 260 5.7 310 6.9 360 7.8 
			 Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant 30 1.9 20 1.3 20 1.1 30 1.6 20 1.1 
			
			  Other ranks  9,090  10.9  8,870  10.6  8,790  10.3  9,840  11.4  9,520  11.3 
			 Warrant Officer(l) 300 17.3 300 17.2 290 16.2 350 19.5 380 21.4 
			 Warrant Officer(2) 520 10.5 580 11.9 510 10.4 600 12.2 700 14.5 
			 Staff Sergeant 480 7.9 520 8.5 450 7.4 530 8.7 650 10.7 
			 Sergeant 690 6.7 600 5.9 540 5.2 700 6.7 800 7.8 
			 Corporal 1,180 7.4 1,140 7.2 1,050 6.5 1,190 7.4 1,240 7.8 
			 Lance Corporal 1,450 9.2 1,500 9.2 1,580 9.8 1,720 10.6 1,680 10.5 
			 Private (Classes 1-3) 4,260 15.4 3,990 14.5 4,000 14.1 4,370 15.1 3,870 13.7 
			 Private (Class 4) 210 20.9 250 20.5 370 23.8 380 24.9 200 22.4 
			 1 Figures show all outflow from Army UK Regular Forces including recalled reservists on release and outflow to the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. Figures do not include promotion from ranks to officer or crossflows into Royal Navy or Royal Air Force. 2 Annual rates are calculated by taking the number of exits as a percentage of the average trained strength (defined as a 13-month rolling average of the trained strength in the individual months) of each rank (or totals thereof).  Note: Due to the founding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. When founding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Percentages are calculated from unrounded figures.  Source: DASA (Tri-Service) 
		
	
	Outflow figures from each service are published monthly by DASA in Tri Service Publication (TSP) 5, which can be accessed from the following web page:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/tsp5/gennotes.html

Army: Official Hospitality

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much was spent on entertainment by the Chief of the General Staff in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006, broken down by event;
	(2)  how much was spent on entertainment by the Adjutant General in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006, broken down by event.

Derek Twigg: The Chief of the General Staff and his immediate predecessor incurred £22,378.03 of expenditure for official entertainment in 2005 and £21,214.25 in 2006. This includes the cost of hotel accommodation for visiting dignitaries and their immediate staff where appropriate. The events were:
	
		
			£ 
			 15 February2005 Lunch with Chef d'Etat-Major de l'Armeé de Terre, France 849.63 
			 8-11 March 2005 Visit of Chief of Staff Japan Ground Defence Force 5,761.53 
			 14 March 2005 Lunch with Commander, Royal Army of Oman 57.83 
			 26-28 April 2005 Visit of Chief of the Australian Army 3,385.97 
			 22- 26 May 2005 The Kermit Roosevelt Lecture Tour 2,831.54 
			 4-8 July 200 Visit of Chief of the Army Staff India 8,991.53 
			 7 February 2006 Lunch with Chief of the General Staff, Italy 504.00 
			 15 March 2006 The Friends of the Army Dinner 1,532.79 
			 21 -25 May 2006 The Kermit Roosevelt Lecture Tour 6,167.23 
			 21 June 2006 Lunch with Chief of the Defence Staff New Zealand 129.55 
			 16-20 July 2006 Visit of Vice Chief of the Army Staff Pakistan 6,187.67 
			 12-15 September 2006 Visit of Chief of the South African Army 6,134.01 
			 12 December 2006 Lunch with Chief of the General Staff Sweden 559.00 
		
	
	The Adjutant General spent £1,840.14 on 14 events in 2005 and £1,741.55 on 17 events in 2006. A breakdown is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  200 5 
			  Date  Cost (£)  Function  Event/reason 
			 22 February 2005 147.74 Dinner Senior Military two star officer visit 
			 24 February 2004 113.40 Dinner Unit cohesiveness—Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Commitments) 
			 13 March 2005 118.57 Dinner Unit cohesiveness—SO1 Directorate of Military Outplacement Services 
			 16 August 2005 83.00 Dinner Unit cohesiveness—civilian and military staff within Headquarters Adjutant General and wider Ministry of Defence 
			 30 August 2005 105.14 Dinner Hon. Member for Gosport (Peter Viggers) and Navy 3-star officer 
			 14 September 2005 113.70 Dinner Senior civilian and military staff and television producer 
			 21 September 2005 47.72 Lunch Working lunch—Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and operational welfare focus 
			 28 September 2005 113.67 Dinner Visit of Chief of the General Staff to Director General Army Recruiting and Training and Headquarters 
			 11 October 2005 129.00 Dinner Director National Army Museum and Army Heritage senior representatives 
			 16 November 2005 332.14 Dinner Headquarters Adjutant General 1-star officer group 
			 2 November 2005 135.01 Dinner Director Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Families Association and Army 3-star officer with Personal Services 4 (Army) grouping (welfare) 
			 18 November 2005 139.26 Inf Dinner Representatives from Headquarters Adjutant General 
			 24 November 2005 111.17 Inf Dinner Visit of Bishop of Salisbury (personnel issues) 
			 1 December 2005 150.62 Dinner Visit of 2(nd) Sea Lord 
			 Total 1,840.14   
		
	
	
		
			  2006 
			  Date  Cost (£)  Function  Event/reason 
			 16 January 2006 145.38 Dinner 1 x Army 3-star officer, 5 x Army 2-star officer 
			 23 January 2006 110.20 Dinner Visit of Master General of Ordnance 
			 13 February 2006 77.97 Dinner Visit of Quarter Master General with Director Army Legal Services and Senior Defence Lecturer, Cranfield 
			 20 February 2006 76.37 Dinner Army 3-star officer and senior civilian representatives 
			 1 March 2006 88.19 Dinner Visit of Senior Minister of the Catholic Group (Armv) 
			 30 March 2006 95.44 Dinner Visit of Assistant Chief General Staff 
			 27 April 2006 120.07 Dinner Military and civilian staff Headquarters Adjutant General 
			 8 May 2006 127.42 Dinner Visit of Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel) and senior officers concerned with welfare/personnel issues 
			 12 June 2006 108.09 Dinner Visit of CinC Land Command 
			 23 August 2006 159.75 Dinner Visit of Judge Advocate General and hosting of Private Secretary to TRH Princes William and Harry 
			 31 August 2006 78.63 Dinner Visit of Governor Royal Hospital Chelsea 
			 12 September 2006 115.31 Dinner Visit of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) regarding Territorial Army soldiers operational and welfare needs 
			 4 October 2006 84.93 Dinner Visit of Chief Constable Wiltshire Constabulary 
			 17 October 2006 113.10 Dinner Sir Max Hastings, Gen Sir Mike Jackson, Sir Ronnie Hempel and Senior Military personnel 
			 15 October 2006 99.99 Dinner Visit of Minister of State for Armed Forces and Member for Air Personnel. 
			 16 November 2006 8.80 Breakfast Minister of State for Armed Forces 
			 21 November 2006 131.91 Dinner Visit of Chief Constable Hampshire Constabulary (enhancement of relations and working best practice) 
			 Total 1,741.55   
		
	
	All expenditure on official entertainment is subject to strict departmental rules and compliance with the principles of propriety set out in Government Accounting.

Type 45 Destroyers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by when he expects to agree an acceptable price for the seventh and eighth Type 45 destroyers.

Adam Ingram: No decision has yet been made to order the seventh and eighth Type 45 destroyers. A number of factors will be taken into account as part of the decision making process including affordability, value-for-money, and the wider context of the Defence Industrial Strategy.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Civil Servants: Conduct

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants have been found to be in breach of Civil Service Code provisions relating to dealings with Parliament since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: Information is not collected in the format requested.

Delivery Unit

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Government  (a) projects and  (b) policy areas her Delivery Unit is reviewing.

Hilary Armstrong: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit works in partnership with No. 10, other parts of the Cabinet Office, the Treasury and stakeholder departments, to assess delivery of PSA targets on Health, Education, Home Affairs, and Local Area Agreements. The Unit also provides performance management for key delivery areas.

Delivery Unit

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will list the names of all delivery teams in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit.

Hilary Armstrong: The Unit has worked most closely with the Department of Health, Home Office, Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Department for Education and Skills and Communities and Local Government. Accordingly, the Unit's current delivery teams are organised around the following policy areas:
	Justice
	Asylum and Migration
	Local Area Agreements
	Health
	Education

Delivery Unit

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which projects the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit's Commissioned Projects Team has reviewed in the last 12 months.

Hilary Armstrong: The PMDU commissioned project team organised the two Public Service Reform conferences hosted by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers in June 2006 and March 2007, and assisted other government departments to support them in delivering education, health, home affairs and social exclusion targets and to facilitate cross government working more generally.

Departments: Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will list the former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 who have since been appointed to public bodies by her Department, broken down by party; and who was responsible for making each appointment.

Hilary Armstrong: Information about the political activity of appointees is recorded and publicised in accordance with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. This shows that the following former hon. Member who left Parliament in 2005 has since been appointed to a public body now sponsored by the Cabinet Office. The information requested is shown in the table.
	 Name :
	Chris Pond
	 Party :
	Labour
	 Appointing authority :
	Secretary of State for the Home Office

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people in her Office who participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98 were paid between (i) £0 to £25,000, (ii) £25,001 to £50,000, (iii) £50,001 to £75,000, (iv) £75,001 to £100,000 and (v) over £100,000; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: The Cabinet Office, which includes the Prime Minister's Office, approved departures under voluntary exit schemes in each of the financial years since 1997 as follows:
	
		
			  1 April to 31 March:  Number of employees 
			 1997-98 0 
			 1998-99 0 
			 1999-2000 4 
			 2000-01 6 
			 2001-02 3 
			 2002-03 10 
			 2003-04 35 
			 2004-05 1 
			 2005-06 4 
			 2006-07 1 
			 Total 64 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office has not held involuntary exit schemes in any of these years.
	The Cabinet Office aims to ensure that it has a diverse and skilled workforce to meet its business needs. Voluntary departures schemes are one of the tools it uses, as an alternative to redundancy, to reduce headcount, to refresh skills and to tackle staff surpluses. The criteria for such schemes are governed by the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, which provides compensation to civil servants who leave via an exit scheme before their pension age.
	Information on costs of voluntary departure schemes is available only at disproportionate cost.

Social Exclusion

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on tackling social exclusion.

Hilary Armstrong: I have regular discussions with all my ministerial colleagues at the Department for Education and Skills (DFES). The Social Exclusion Task Force works closely with DFES on many of its initiatives to tackle exclusion. Currently, DFES is making an important contribution to the Nurse-Family Partnership pilots, which are testing a model of early identification and preventive health led intensive home visiting as a means to reduce the risk of social exclusion in later life.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children's Centres

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the criteria are for deciding the location of children's centres; and whether he expects such centres to be established in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex.

Beverley Hughes: Local authorities have been issued with planning guidance that sets out the criteria for the location of children's centres. We have asked them to ensure that all children under five in the 30 per cent. most disadvantaged areas of England have access to integrated Sure Start services by 2008. These areas are defined by super output areas as developed by the Office for National Statistics. The exact location within these areas is determined by local authorities in consultation with local partners. When appropriate plans have been made to serve the most disadvantaged areas with children's centre services, the local authority then has the flexibility to decide where to locate further centres according to the resources available.
	There are currently 10 designated children's centres in East Sussex, including two in Eastbourne. By 2010 there will be a children's centre serving every community in England.

Children's Centres: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1391W, on children's centres, on what grounds he decided that  (a) history,  (b) geography,  (c) science,  (d) design and technology,  (e) citizenship and  (f) personal, social and health education were content heavy.

Jim Knight: Prior to asking the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to review the secondary curriculum, the clear view of subject communities and those involved with young people reported that they wanted to see less content in history, geography, science, design and technology, citizenship and personal, social and health education. The QCA also expressed the view that the programmes of study in those subjects were too prescriptive.

City Academies

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what  (a) meetings and  (b) correspondence took place between his Department and the Prime Minister's Office on the target for academies to be created by 2010 prior to the Prime Minister's announcement on 30 November 2006 that the target was being doubled from 200 to 400 by 2010.

Jim Knight: There was a range of discussions and correspondence between the Department and the Prime Minister's office, prior to this announcement.

Class Sizes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of  (a) Key Stage 1 and  (b) Key Stage 2 pupils were taught in classes of (i) 29-30 and (ii) over 30 in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary schools ( 1) : Classes as taught ( 2)( ) 1997-2006 position in January each year—England 
			   Key Stage 1( 3)  Key Stage 2 
			   29-30 pupils  Over 30 pupils  29-30 pupils  Over 30 pupils 
			   Number of pupils  Percentage  Number of pupils  Percentage  Number of pupils  Percentage  Number of pupils  Percentage 
			 1997 363,335 22.1 476,822 29.0 466,443 22.7 779,532 37.9 
			 1998 376,292 22.7 485,311 29.3 481,578 23.1 832,668 39.9 
			 1999 395,578 24.3 356,586 21.9 503,066 23.7 835,257 39.4 
			 2000 469,639 29.1 176,962 11.0 521,701 24.5 814,309 38.2 
			 2001 537,218 34.1 35,813 2.3 545,774 25.3 747,091 34.6 
			 2002 556,719 35.9 10,263 0.7 541,266 25.6 635,819 30.1 
			 2003 563,054 38.6 16,367 1.1 537,535 26.7 550,615 27.4 
			 2004 574,324 39.5 20,727 1.4 549,488 27.5 509,963 25.5 
			 2005 554,968 38.8 22,077 1.5 572,352 28.6 498,546 24.9 
			 2006 546,558 39.2 28,074 2.0 588,047 29.9 477,481 24.3 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed (2) Classes as taught during a single selected period on the day of the census in January each year (3) From 2003 Reception classes have been returned alongside Nursery classes as Foundation stage. Reception classes have been included in Key Stage 1 numbers for 2003 and later to produce a coverage as close as possible to that available for previous years.  Source:  School Census

Departments: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what databases are controlled by his Department and its agencies; and what percentage of the data in each database he estimates is inaccurate or out of date.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Education and Skills. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal and external information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many people in his Department participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in his Department who participated in  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 1997-98 were paid between (i) £0 to £25,000, (ii) £25,001 to £50,000, (iii) £50,001 to £75,000, (iv) £75,001 to £100,000 and (v) over £100,000; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: There have been no involuntary exit schemes in the Department since 1997 and we remain committed to minimising recourse to compulsory redundancies. The Department has managed part of its staff reductions through voluntary early releases.
	From the 1997-98 financial year to the end of the 2006-07 financial year, the total number of such releases were as follows:
	
		
			   Number of releases 
			 1997-98 101 
			 1998-99 51 
			 1999-00 50 
			 2000-01 61 
			 2001-02 84 
			 2002-03 57 
			 2003-04 28 
			 2004-05 332 
			 2005-06 204 
			 2006-07 156 
		
	
	Information on individual voluntary exit scheme payments to staff for each of those years is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Education Maintenance Allowance: North East Region

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of young people in  (a) Hartlepool constituency and  (b) Tees Valley sub-region received (i) £30, (ii) £20 and (iii) £10 in education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme began;
	(2)  what percentage of young people in  (a) Hartlepool constituency and  (b) Tees Valley sub-region received education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme began.

Phil Hope: These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) scheme for the DfES and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 11 April 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions that asked:
	"What percentage of young people in (a) Hartlepool constituency and (b) Tees Valley sub-region received (i) 30, (ii) 20 and (iii) 10 in education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme began" and; "What percentage of young people in (a) Hartlepool constituency and (b) Tees Valley sub-region received education maintenance allowance in each year since the scheme began?"
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level, but not at constituency level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	The following tables show EMA take-up data split by payment band for Hartlepool Local Authority area and Tees Valley LSC during each academic year since the scheme's inception.
	
		
			  Take-up of EMA in each academic year —2004/ 05 
			   Hartlepool  Tees Valley 
			  Band  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 £30 838 82 4,049 81 
			 £20 84 8 402 8 
			 £10 100 10 524 11 
			 Total 1,022 — 4,975 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Take-up of EMA in each academic year— 2005/ 06 
			   Hartlepool  Tees Valley 
			  Band  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 £30 958 83 5,875 82 
			 £20 103 9 667 9 
			 £10 91 8 642 9 
			 Total 1,152 — 7,184 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Take-up of EMA in each academic year—2006/07 to end February 
			   Hartlepool  Tees Valley 
			  Band  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 £30 1,196 84 7,504 83 
			 £20 124 9 806 9 
			 £10 98 7 715 8 
			 Total 1,418 — 9,025 — 
		
	
	In the first year of national roll out EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas (young people who are 19 are entitled to receive EMA in certain circumstances). In 2005/06 EMA roll out continued and EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. In 2006/07 EMA is available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally. In calculating the percentage of young people receiving EMA only take up and population figures for age groups where EMA was available nationally have been used. The fall-off in later years reflects that age groups are included that are less likely to be in education.
	The following table shows the percentage of young people receiving EMA in Hartlepool Local Authority area and Tees Valley LSC during each academic year since national roll out.
	
		
			  Percentage of population receiving EMA in each academic year 
			   Hartlepool  Tees Valley 
			 2004/05 (16 year olds only) 45 40 
			 2005/06 (16 and 17 year olds) 41 37 
			 2006/07 to end February (16, 17 and 18 year olds) 37 32 
		
	
	I hope this information is useful and addresses your question.

Education: Finance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school education in (i) Hartlepool constituency, (ii) the Tees Valley sub-region, (iii) the North East region and (iv) England in each year since 1992.

Jim Knight: Hartlepool constituency falls within the Hartlepool local education authority. The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Primary school- based expenditure 
			  £ 
			   Hartlepool local authority  Tess Valley sub-region  North East Government office region  England 
			 1992-93 — — — — 
			 1993-94 — — — — 
			 1994-95 — — — — 
			 1995-96 — — — — 
			 1996-97 — — — — 
			 1997-98 — — — — 
			 1998-99 — — — — 
			  
			 1999-2000 16,948,000 127,977,000 444,482,000 8,602,543,000 
			 2000-01 19,528,000 139,430,000 483,885,000 9,425,272,000 
			 2001-02 23,721,000 158,342,000 544,838,000 10,495,632,000 
			 2002-03 22,301,000 154,746,000 537,799,000 10,584,953,000 
			 2003-04 23,874,000 165,584,000 572,380,000 11,379,539,000 
			 2004-05 25,002,000 171,844,000 596,563,000 11,900,153,000 
			 2005-06 27,417,000 185,581,000 638,133,000 12,721,978,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Pre-primary and primary school- based expenditure 
			  £ 
			   Hartlepool local authority  Tess Valley sub-region  North East Government office region  England 
			 1992-93 — — 358,931,000 6,271,959,000 
			 1993-94 — — 368,510,000 6,526,507,000 
			 1994-95 — — 377,229,000 6,770,737,000 
			 1995-96 — — 385,323,000 6,986,793,000 
			 1996-97 13,998,000 — 390,120,000 7,219,481,000 
			 1997-98 14,696,000 106,089,000 387,380,000 7,277,910,000 
			 1998-99 16,022,000 113,386,000 412,727,000 7,834,434,000 
			  
			 1999-2000 17,197,000 130,222,000 458,999,000 8,842,996,000 
			 2000-01 19,844,000 143,049,000 502,500,000 9,761,443,000 
			 2001-02 24,460,000 164,016,000 571,112,000 10,918,773,000 
			 2002-03 — — — — 
			 2003-04 — — — — 
			 2004-05 — — — — 
			 2005-06 — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  Secondary school-based expenditure 
			  £ 
			   Hartlepool local authority  Tess Valley sub-region  North East Government office region  England 
			 1992-93 — — 387,941,000 6,236,710,000 
			 1993-94 — — 363,735,000 5,638,500,000 
			 1994-95 — — 372,926,000 5,552,916,000 
			 1995-96 — — 382,592,000 5,592,544,000 
			 1996-97 12,851,000 — 388,136,000 5,714,559,000 
			 1997-98 13,436,000 95,446,000 393,033,000 5,775,271,000 
			 1998-99 14,656,000 100,463,000 412,503,000 6,049,029,000 
			447,884,578  
			  
			 1999-2000 15,833,000 111,963,000 447,885,000 8,257,736,000 
			 2000-01 18,952,000 125,843,000 496,833,000 9,093,528,000 
			 2001-02 22,096,000 141,462,000 557,576,000 10,261,440,000 
			 2002-03 21,855,000 143,151,000 569,583,000 10,621,927,000 
			 2003-04 25,306,000 154,898,000 631,797,000 11,768,559,000 
			 2004-05 25,868,000 161,275,000 672,642,000 12,603,303,000 
			 2005-06 27,235,000 172,192,000 718,537,000 13,480,547,000 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of section 52 for financial year 1999-2000. School based expenditure in local authority maintained nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. 2. School-based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. Central local authority expenditure cannot, in all cases, be attributed to a particular phase of education and consequently is excluded from the tables. 3. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the section 52 form from the DfES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank row. 4. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. In 2001-02, this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil. From 2002-03 onwards, only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the 2002-03 total. Also, for some local authorities, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the central local authority part of the form from 2002-03, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources. 5. Local government reorganisation (LGR) prior to the 1996-97 financial year in the county of Cleveland resulted in the creation of four new unitary local authorities (Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees). Consequently figures for Hartlepool LA are not available prior to 1996-97. 6. The Tees Valley sub-region comprises of the four unitary authorities created by the local government reorganisation of the county of Cleveland in 1996 (namely Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees LAs) along with the borough of Darlington which became a unitary authority in 1997. Consequently figures for the Tees Valley sub-region are not available prior to the 1997-98 financial year. 7. Spending in 1997-98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998-99. 8. The 1999-2000 figures reflect the return of grant maintained schools to local authority maintenance. 9. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 2 April 2007.

Educational Attainment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils at the end of key stage 4 attending  (a) maintained secondary schools and  (b) independent secondary schools achieved each grade in GCSE (i) English, (ii) mathematics, (iii) a modern foreign language, (iv) history and (v) geography in each year since 1996.

Jim Knight: This information has been placed in the House Library.

English Language: Asylum

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many failed asylum seekers took English for Speakers of Other Languages courses in each London borough in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: Currently all English for Speakers of Other Languages learners are eligible for full fee remittance and this includes asylum seekers. However, those refused asylum and not granted leave to remain are not eligible for Learning and Skills Council funded provision.

Extended Schools: Tees Valley

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in  (a) Hartlepool constituency and  (b) Tees Valley sub region offer extended hours; what activities are provided in the schools offering extended hours; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There are five primary schools and three secondary schools in the constituency of Hartlepool providing access to the extended schools full core offer of services. In the Tees Valley area there are 104 primary schools and 31 secondary schools providing access to the full core offer of services. The core offer includes primary schools providing access to childcare from 8 am to 6 pm all year round in response to demand, all schools offering access to a range of study support activities beyond the school day, parenting support, swift and easy referral and opening up facilities to the wider community.
	As well as the schools already delivering the extended schools full core offer, a further seven primary schools in Hartlepool and 37 primary schools in the Tees Valley provide access to childcare and a further 27 schools in Hartlepool and 55 schools in the Tees Valley provide access to a varied menu of study support activities. The Department does not collect data on the range of study support activities but these typically include homework clubs, sporting activities, music and drama clubs.
	By 2010 all schools in England will be offering the extended school core offer of services.

Free School Meals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the reliability of free school meal take-up rates as an indicator of the level of deprivation among pupils within a school; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Free school meal rates give a broad indication of the level of deprivation among pupils attending a particular school. FSM information is collected by schools and accurately records pupils who are known by the school to be eligible for and claiming free school meals. The criteria for FSM eligibility are consistent across schools nationally.
	When assessing the level of deprivation among pupils within schools, the Department makes use of a range of different deprivation indicators. free school meals is an important indicator because it is the only one which reflects the actual home situation of individual pupils. Other indicators of deprivation, such as the Index of Multiple Deprivation, the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI), or ACORN categories, cannot directly identify pupils who are living in deprived households as they are only available on an "area" basis. These other indicators are used by linking to pupils indirectly through their home postcodes, and therefore can only reflect the extent to which pupils live in deprived areas.
	In certain contexts such as the calculation of contextual value added scores in the achievement and attainment tables, FSM is used together with an area-based indicator (IDACI) so that the two indicators together give a rounded picture of the levels of deprivation affecting each school.

Further Education

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the successful completion rate was for further education courses in each year from 2001 to 2006.

Bill Rammell: Success rates for LSC-funded provision delivered through FE colleges and external institutions are detailed in the following table. Data for 2005/06 are not yet available but will be published later this month.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   FE colleges  External institutions 
			 2000/01 59 57 
			 2001/02 65 61 
			 2002/03 68 62 
			 2003/04 72 65 
			 2004/05 75 66 
		
	
	Targets for FE college learner success rates have been set at 76 per cent. by 2007/08 with a further stretch to 80 per cent. by 2010/11.
	Success rates for LSC-funded work-based learning (WBL) courses are shown in the following table. Again, data for 2005/06 will be published later this month.
	
		
			   Work-based learning (Percentage) 
			 2000/01 n/a 
			 2001/02 36 
			 2002/03 41 
			 2003/04 46 
			 2004/05 53 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	Data on successful completion rates are not available for adult and community learning or for school sixth forms.

GCE A Level: Classics

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which maintained secondary schools in England offer A level courses in  (a) Latin and  (b) Ancient Greek; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information required to answer the question is not available.

GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1912, on languages, how many of the schools that entered no pupils for a GCSE in history and geography entered a pupil for a GCSE in humanities.

Jim Knight: The following table lists the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4) were entered at GCSE in history and geography but did enter pupils in humanities and gives the number of pupils entered for humanities as well as the number at the end of KS4 who attended these schools in 2006.
	
		
			  LA number  Estab. number  LA name  School name  Number of pupils at end of KS4  Humanities entries 
			 826 5400 Milton Keynes Stantonbury Campus 512 458 
			 826 4085 Milton Keynes Sir Frank Markham Community School 291 260 
			 316 4034 Newham Eastlea Community School 197 192 
			 331 4039 Coventry Ernesford Grange Community School A Specialist Science College 200 177 
			 344 4017 Wirral Park High School 192 172 
			 340 4014 Knowsley Prescot School 177 167 
			 830 4103 Derbyshire Frederick Gent School 174 167 
			 320 4063 Waltham Forest Heathcote School 156 153 
			 845 4062 East Sussex Eastbourne Technology College 176 149 
			 335 4100 Walsall Darlaston Community Science College 206 147 
			 886 5421 Kent The Canterbury High School 183 146 
			 919 4029 Hertfordshire Adeyfield School 145 126 
			 352 4286 Manchester Newall Green High School 180 124 
			 892 4460 Nottingham The River Leen School 149 103 
			 928 5406 Northamptonshire Manor School and Sports College 117 103 
			 925 4067 Lincolnshire Queen Eleanor Technology College 104 100 
			 909 4304 Cumbria The Alfred Barrow School 91 69 
			 886 5419 Kent Angley School—A Sports College 182 61 
			 211 4284 Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green Technology College 165 53 
			 812 4008 North East Lincolnshire Havelock School 130 45 
			 373 4228 Sheffield Waltheof School 207 39 
			 380 4041 Bradford Belle Vue Girls' School 162 39 
			 846 4022 Brighton and Hove Palmer High School 138 26 
			 925 5419 Lincolnshire The Grantham Church (VA) High School 71 24 
			 335 6905 Walsall Walsall Academy 54 22 
			 925 4609 Lincolnshire St. Clements College 207 19 
			 916 5413 Gloucestershire Central Technology College 93 14 
			 831 4608 Derby da Vinci Community College 91 13 
			 886 6906 Kent The Marlowe Academy 82 3 
		
	
	Data for 2006 are revised.

GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1912W, on languages, which of the schools that entered no pupils for a GCSE in history or geography also entered no pupils for a GCSE in humanities.

Jim Knight: The following table lists the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4) were entered at GCSE in history and humanities or no pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4) were entered at GCSE in geography and humanities and gives the number of pupils entered for history and geography and the number at the end of KS4 who attended these schools in 2006.
	
		
			  LA number  Estab. number  LA name  School name  Number of pupils at end of KS4  History entries  Geography entries 
			 371 4020 Doncaster North Doncaster Technology College 248 58 0 
			 888 4042 Lancashire Burnley Towneley High School 145 54 0 
			 207 4681 Kensington and Chelsea Saint Thomas More Language College 121 52 0 
			 316 4016 Newham Rokeby School 158 50 0 
			 330 4008 Birmingham Saltley School and Specialist Science College 176 47 0 
			 380 4613 Bradford Feversham College 89 44 0 
			 306 6900 Croydon BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology 124 42 0 
			 830 4200 Derbyshire Springwell Community School 158 41 0 
			 380 4033 Bradford Wyke Manor School 169 38 0 
			 836 4104 Poole Carter Community School 107 38 0 
			 891 4041 Nottinghamshire Garibaldi College 200 37 0 
			 810 4454 Kingston Upon Hull, City of Isaac Newton School 105 34 0 
			 330 4332 Birmingham The Heartlands High School 95 31 0 
			 380 4022 Bradford Belle Vue Boys' School 81 29 0 
			 359 4800 Wigan Saint Thomas More Catholic High School 127 28 0 
			 380 4101 Bradford Grange Technology College 289 27 0 
			 340 4003 Knowsley Brookfield High School 160 27 0 
			 931 4005 Oxfordshire Drayton School 94 24 0 
			 380 5404 Bradford Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College 174 22 0 
			 333 5400 Sandwell Manor Foundation Business, Enterprise and Sports College 145 22 0 
			 925 4061 Lincolnshire Birkbeck School and Community Arts College 72 22 0 
			 866 4087 Swindon Headlands 158 20 0 
			 876 4218 Halton Halton High School 111 18 0 
			 888 4005 Lancashire Skerton Community High School 55 18 0 
			 856 4252 Leicester Riverside Community College 166 15 0 
			 210 4215 Southwark Walworth School 256 14 0 
			 891 4008 Nottinghamshire Kirkby College 144 14 0 
			 352 6905 Manchester Manchester Academy 136 14 0 
			 831 4177 Derby Bemrose Community School 132 13 0 
			 925 5414 Lincolnshire Joseph Ruston Technology College 92 13 0 
			 330 4611 Birmingham St. Alban's CofE School 72 13 0 
			 355 4018 Salford Beis Yaakov High School 34 13 0 
			 383 4044 Leeds Primrose High School 119 8 0 
			 861 4185 Stoke-on-Trent Mitchell High School 105 7 0 
			 882 5430 Southend-on-Sea The Thorpe Bay School 114 6 0 
			 813 4075 North Lincolnshire Brumby Engineering College 148 5 0 
			 886 5453 Kent Montgomery School 44 5 0 
			 340 4017 Knowsley Bowring Community Sports College 162 1 0 
			 886 5413 Kent Oldborough Manor Community School 106 1 0 
			 808 4106 Stockton-on-Tees Blakeston School - A Community Sports College 169 0 66 
			 882 5434 Southend-on-Sea Belfairs High School 216 0 50 
			 330 4334 Birmingham AI-Hijrah Secondary School 48 0 48 
			 357 5401 Tameside West Hill School 165 0 47 
			 933 5401 Somerset Brymore School 54 0 47 
			 830 4195 Derbyshire Parkside Community School 113 0 45 
			 840 4180 Durham Sunnydale Community College for Maths and Computing 110 0 29 
			 886 4122 Kent Ellington School for Girls 87 0 28 
			 315 4057 Merton Tamworth Manor High School 107 0 27 
			 856 4249 Leicester Hamilton Community College 208 0 22 
			 860 4066 Staffordshire Norton Canes High School 93 0 20 
			 208 4322 Lambeth Stockwell Park High School 174 0 16 
			 391 4500 Newcastle upon Tyne All Saints College 188 0 15 
			 925 5422 Lincolnshire St. Hugh's CofE Mathematics and Computing College 71 0 14 
			 801 4038 Bristol, City of Withywood Community School 161 0 13 
			 336 4115 Wolverhampton Deansfield High School 138 0 13 
			 881 5456 Essex Barstable School 173 0 12 
			 871 4085 Slough Beechwood School 88 0 12 
			 358 4015 Trafford Lostock College 96 0 8 
			 879 4193 Plymouth Parkside Community College 50 0 5 
			 343 4007 Sefton Ainsdale High School 2 0 1 
			 889 4409 Blackburn with Darwen Queen's Park Technology College 2 0 1 
			 801 4046 Bristol, City of Speedwell Technology College 204 0 0 
			 806 6905 Middlesbrough Unity City Academy 187 0 0 
			 357 4025 Tameside Hyde Technology School and Hearing Impaired Resource Base 181 0 0 
			 935 4600 Suffolk St. Benedict's Catholic School 141 0 0 
			 340 5400 Knowsley St. Thomas Becket Catholic High School 128 0 0 
			 332 4117 Dudley The Hillcrest School and Community College 126 0 0 
			 355 6905 Salford Salford City Academy 101 0 0 
			 370 4019 Barnsley The Elmhirst School 89 0 0 
			 330 5900 Birmingham St. Paul's Community Foundation School 11 0 0 
			 881 4002 Essex Bishops Park College 3 0 0 
			 341 5401 Liverpool Our Lady's Catholic High School 1 0 0 
		
	
	Data for 2006 are revised.

GCSE

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many maintained schools did not enter any pupils for a GCSE in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics,  (c) history,  (d) geography,  (e) biology,  (f) chemistry and  (g) physics in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Jim Knight: The answer to this request is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of maintained mainstream schools who did not enter any 15 year old( 1)  pupils for GCSEs in Engl ish. mathematics, history, geography, b iology.  chemistry and p hysics by subject and year 
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 English(2) 3 1 0 1 1 2 5 0 2 0 1 
			 Maths(2) 3 1 0 1 1 2 5 0 2 0 1 
			 Science(3) 24 30 34 32 30 23 22 22 34 53 73 
			 Physics 2,664 2,629 2,528 2,478 2,452 2,413 2,388 2,278 2,224 2,157 2,033 
			 Biology 2,619 2,589 2,506 2,440 2,414 2,360 2,339 2,170 2,120 2,035 1,909 
			 Chemistry 2,664 2,633 2,526 2,483 2,451 2,419 2,383 2,281 2,233 2,160 2,033 
			 History 103 94 65 73 66 71 79 63 51 55 55 
			 Geography 93 76 52 52 51 63 72 72 58 69 76 
			 (1 )Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August. (2 )AII schools with no entries in English or Maths GCSEs had less than ten 15 year old pupils. (3.)Including Double and Single Award Science.

Headteachers: Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1286W, on head teachers' pay, whether his Department holds information on the salaries of teaching staff and school leaders in academies.

Jim Knight: The DfES does not hold information on academy teaching staff, school leader or principals' salaries as these are matters for academy governors to resolve as independent schools with their principals. We are aware that head teachers' salaries in academies tend to be higher as they expect to recruit experienced head teachers and the challenges they can face are often immense. Sometimes, academy principal salaries are identified in advertisements and in March 2007 there were two academy principal posts currently advertised with identified salaries. These were in Sheffield, which offered a salary of £80,000 and in Darlington, which offered a salary "circa £85,000".

Higher Education: Admissions

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of higher education students was drawn from low participation neighbourhoods in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2001 and  (c) 2005;
	(2)  how many students at English Russell Group universities were drawn from state schools in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2006.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information on entrants from low participation neighbourhoods is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Proportion of UK-domiciled young entrants to full-time first degree courses at higher education institutions in England, who are from low participation neighbourhoods: 
			  Academic year  Proportion from low participation neighbourhoods 
			 1997/98 11 .4 
			 2001/02 12.4 
			 2004/05 13.1 
			  Source: 'Performance Indicators in Higher Education' published by HESA 
		
	
	The 2005/06 figure will become available by the end of July 2007.
	Estimates of the numbers of entrants to English Russell Group institutions from state schools can be derived from the state schools performance indicator in higher education. The latest available information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of UK-domiciled young entrants to full-time first degree courses at Russell Group Institutions in England, who are from state schools 
			  Academic year  Number from schools 
			 1997/98 27,225 
			 2004/05 35,975 
			  Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: 'Performance Indicators in Higher Education' published by HESA 
		
	
	2005/06 figures will become available by the end of July 2007, and 2006/07 figures will become available in 2008.

Higher Education: Scholarships

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the expected cost is of fee loans and fee grants for full-time students on undergraduate degrees linked to Higher Education Funding Council for England and Training and Development Agency-funded provision in 2007-08;
	(2)  what the planned cash cost is of maintenance income contingent loans for full-time higher education students in England in 2007-08;
	(3)  what the planned cash cost is of grants for  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time undergraduate students in England in 2007-08.

Bill Rammell: Planned expenditure on student support in FY 2007-08 is shown in the following tables. Figures are based on current policies and relate to support provided to English domiciled students studying in UK institutions, and EU students studying in English institutions. Table 1 refers to full-time students: Table 2 refers to part-time students.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2007-08 Full-time support planned expenditure (figures rounded to the nearest £10 million) 
			  Full-time support type( 1, 2)  FY 2007-08 (£ million) 
			 1. All grants(3) 860 
			  Of which:  
			 Tuition fee grant(4) 160 
			   
			 2. Fee loan RAB cost(5) 350 
			 or as cash cost(6) 1,060 
			   
			 3. Maintenance loan RAB cost(5) 580 
			 or as cash cost(6) 2,740 
			 (1) All figures cover full-time undergraduates, but also PGCE students and part-time initial teacher training students. (2) All figures consistent with those published in the departmental annual report—2006. (3 )Includes maintenance grant, higher education grant, tuition fee grant, special support grant, childcare grant, parents learning allowance and disabled student allowances. (4) Tuition fee grants are only available to students entering HE prior to 2006/07. (5) The cost to the public purse represents the resource cost of providing loans. This is based on the RAB charge, which is an estimate of the percentage of the face value of loans (issued in a given year) which reflects the true cost to the government over the expected life of the loan. (6) Cash outlay figures refer to the total value of funds made available to students through loans. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2007-08 Part-time support costs (figures rounded to the nearest £10 million) 
			  Part-time  s upport  FY 2007-08 (£ million) 
			 4. Part-time grants(1, 2, 3) 60 
			 (1 )Includes course grants and fee grants. (2) Figure covers part time undergraduates (excluding students on part-time ITT courses and PGCE courses). (3) Figure consistent with those published in the departmental annual report—2006.

Primary Education: Assessments

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many national tests a primary school pupil takes between the ages of five and 11.

Jim Knight: Primary schools are required to administer national curriculum tests at the end of key stages 1 and 2, which for most pupils is at ages seven and 11.
	During the final year in key stage 1, teachers are required to administer at least one task or test in reading, writing and mathematics to pupils who are working at national curriculum level 1 or above. The outcomes of those tasks and tests are used to underpin teacher assessment and feed into a single overarching teacher judgment rather than being reported separately. The arrangements are flexible: teachers must administer sufficient tasks and tests to help them to arrive at a secure judgment, and time limits are not specified for tasks and tests, which can be taken at any time during the school year.
	In the final year of key stage 2, schools are required to administer three tests to pupils working at level 3 or above, consisting of the following papers:
	English—three test papers: writing (shorter task), and spelling, writing (longer task), and reading;
	Mathematics—three test papers, one of which is a mental mathematics test;
	Science—two test papers.
	The tests in key stage 2 take in total five hours 20 minutes to complete.

School Leaving

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 16 to 18-year-olds were not in education, employment or training in the 10 per cent. of local education authorities with the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest levels of free school meal entitlement in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006.

Jim Knight: The following table gives the estimated number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the 10 per cent. of local authorities with the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest levels of free school meal entitlement between November 2005 and January 2006. Data on NEET to the local authority area are not available for 1997.
	
		
			  Estimated number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds in (a) highest and (b) lowest 10 per cent. of local authorities by free school meal entitlement who were not in education, employment or training (NEET), November 2005 to January 2006 
			   Percentage known to be eligible for free meals( 1)  Number NEET  Percentage NEET 
			  (a) Highest proportion with free school meal entitlement
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 29.0 450 15.9 
			 Liverpool 29.8 2,080 12.4 
			 Middlesbrough 30.9 880 15.7 
			 Camden 31.5 440 8.9 
			 Birmingham 31.6 4,620 14.3 
			 Westminster 32.7 380 8.2 
			 Knowsley 33.9 700 12.4 
			 Haringey 34.8 730 11.6 
			 Lambeth 37.4 790 15.3 
			 Hackney 38.3 760 16.1 
			 Newham 40.2 880 9.8 
			 Manchester 40.9 1,870 12.0 
			 Southwark 42.9 770 14.5 
			 Islington 43.0 650 10.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 59.5 870 12.6 
			 
			  (b) Lowest proportion with free school meal entitlement
			 Rutland 3.8 10 0.9 
			 Wokingham 4.5 230 6.1 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 4.5 180 5.0 
			 Bracknell Forest 4.7 250 8.6 
			 West Berkshire 5.1 300 6.4 
			 Wiltshire 5.1 650 5.7 
			 Buckinghamshire 5.4 550 3.9 
			 Poole 5.6 300 6.6 
			 Leicestershire 5.6 1,200 6.4 
			 North Yorkshire 5.9 870 4.9 
			 Dorset 5.9 656 6.0 
			 West Sussex 6.0 1,090 4.7 
			 Surrey 6.1 1,040 3.5 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 6.3 310 5.3 
			 Lincolnshire 6.4 1,310 6.0 
			 (1 )Secondary Schools, January 2006 
		
	
	These figures are drawn from the operational client management systems maintained by Connexions services. It only includes those people known to the service (about 85 per cent. of the population); some young people who attended independent schools or were at school outside England are excluded. The age relates to those of calendar year age 16-18 on the date of measurement.
	This NEET measure is that used for setting and monitoring local authority performance. The definition differs from that used to measure the national departmental PSA NEET target. Along with not covering the entire population, the Connexions NEET measure excludes those on gap years, or in custody. The PSA measure is for academic rather than calendar age 16-18.

Schools: Admissions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support he is providing to local authorities who wish to pilot anonymised admissions procedures.

Jim Knight: During debate on the Education and Inspections Act, we supported the suggestion that local authorities or other third parties might assess applications for school places on behalf of admission authorities in the area, with their agreement. Officials have now met local authorities who expressed an interest in piloting the 'admissions administration' approach, and two have taken this interest further and are discussing the idea locally. Limited funding may be available to cover implementation costs, and the Department's officials have asked for details of what these might be.

Schools: Intimidation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he has issued guidance to schools on the supervision of changing rooms for the purposes of combating bullying.

Jim Knight: The Department's current anti-bullying guidance, "Don't Suffer in Silence", advises schools to work with pupils to map the places on the school premises where bullying occurs. This enables schools to improve the school environment and reduce the potential for incidents of bullying to occur. The guidance is currently being revised and, as part of that process, we will look at how we might strengthen its advice.
	The Department's forthcoming guidance on cyberbullying will include more specific advice on the supervision of changing rooms, and the use of mobile phones in these settings.

Science: Teachers

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the 7,500 new science teachers hired in 2005 referred to in the Prime Minister's speech Our Nation's Future—Science in November 2006 are specialists in  (a) physics,  (b) chemistry and  (c) biology.

Jim Knight: The 7,500 referred to in the Prime Minister's speech, "Our Nation's Future—Science", is the number of trainees registered to enter mainstream(1) science, technology, engineering and mathematics Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in the academic year 2005/06. The breakdown of science courses into the individual specialisms was not available prior to 2006/07. Provisional data for recruitment to ITT courses in 2006/07 were published in January 2007 and are available at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000681/index.shtml
	(1) Mainstream ITT providers include Universities and other Higher Education Institutions, SCITT and OU, but excludes employment based routes

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1406-7W, on secondary education: curriculum, how many parents will be invited to attend the regional events on the secondary curriculum review;
	(2)  which local authorities have been asked to host the regional events for parents on the secondary curriculum review.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, working with St. Martins College, held events for parents in Sandwell on 16 March 2007 and in Bristol on 22 March 2007. The two local authorities asked schools to invite parents to take part in the events.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1407W, on secondary education: curriculum, whether the Director of Curriculum produced a report on his visit to South Africa.

Jim Knight: The Director of Curriculum visited South Africa at the request of the Western Cape Education Department. He provided a verbal report to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Chief Executive and relevant colleagues.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what scientifically based research was  (a) commissioned,  (b) produced and (c) consulted by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on the approach to the curriculum adopted in the secondary curriculum review.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's (QCA) approach to the curriculum adopted in the secondary curriculum review is built on evidence from ongoing work with schools and colleges. The 'futures in action' programme, which has been running since 2005, has continued to demonstrate a high degree of consensus about many of the characteristics of how the curriculum should be shaped. QCA's work is also supported by the results of its annual curriculum monitoring programme which includes interviews and questionnaires with head teachers, deputy heads, teachers and pupils.

Special Educational Needs: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) Ribble Valley (i) had special educational needs and (ii) were educated in special schools in each year since 2000.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and number of pupils in special schools( 1)  2000- 06, position in January each year—Lancashire local authority and Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency 
			  Lancashire local authority 
			   Pupils with SEN  Pupils in special  s chools 
			   With statements  Without statements( 2)  Maintained  Non-maintained 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 5)  Number  Percent age( 5) 
			 2000 7,666 4.1 29,706 15.7 2,224 1.2 88 0.05 
			 2001(3) 7,454 3.8 29,469 15.6 2,241 1 2 73 0 04 
			 2002 7,275 3.9 28,497 15.2 2,270 1.2 — — 
			 2003 7,248 3.9 23,566 12.6 2,253 1.2 — — 
			 2004 7,323 4.0 23,862 15.0 2,238 1.2 — — 
			 2005 7,391 4.0 23,089 14.5 2,205 1.2 — — 
			 2006 7,332 4.1 23,093 14.8 2,186 1.2 — — 
		
	
	
		
			  Ribble Valley local authority 
			   Pupils with SEN  Pupils in  special schools 
			   With statements  Without statements  Maintained  Non-maintained 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 5)  Number  Percent age( 5) 
			 2000 473 2.6 2.034 11.2 61 0.3 — — 
			 2001(3) 462 2.5 2,023 11.0 61 0.3 — — 
			 2002 428 2.3 2,027 11.0 60 0.3 — — 
			 2003 430 2.3 1,722 9.2 60 0.3 — — 
			 2004 431 2.3 1,673 8.9 61 0.3 — — 
			 2005 439 2.3 1,667 8.8 60 0.3 — — 
			 2006 436 2.3 1,847 9.8 61 0.3 — — 
			 (1 )Excludes dually registered pupils (2 )Excludes general hospital schools. This information is not collected from these schools. (3 )There are known quality issues with data on special educational needs collected via the Schools Census in 2001. Figures shown here are as reported by schools. (4 )Number of pupils with or without a statement of SEN expressed as a percentage of the number on roll. (5 )Number of pupils in maintained or non-maintained special schools expressed as a percentage of pupils in all schools. Not applicable, no schools of this type.  Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children resident in the Peterborough local education authority area with special educational needs were placed in schools outside that area in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 21 February 2007
	This information has previously been requested in PQ117437. A table showing the number and percentage of children with statements of special educational need who were educated at a special school outside their local authority area, by each local authority for the years 2002 to 2006 was placed in the House of Commons Library on 30 January 2007.

Students: Loans

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the interest rates charged by the Student Loans Company are not raised by any more than the inflation rate for the next five years.

Bill Rammell: The Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 specifies that the interest rate charged by the Student Loans Company must be no higher than that required to maintain the value of the loan in real terms. Any change to this limit would require the agreement of Parliament.

Teachers: Early Retirement

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of teachers in the leadership group have taken early retirement in each of the past 10 years.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the number and percentage of leadership group teachers retiring from the maintained school sector in each year from 1996-97 to 2005-06, the latest information available.
	
		
			  Head, deputy head and assistant head teacher retirement benefits( 1)  from the maintained schools sector, 1996-97 to 2005-06 
			   Retirements  
			  Financial year (1 April to 31 March)  Premature( 2)  Ill h ealth( 3)  Total  Percentage( 4) 
			 1996-97(5) 2,200 930 3,130 6.6 
			 1997-98(5) 2,380 590 2,970 6.3 
			 1998-99(5) 590 430 1,020 2.2 
			 1999-2000(5) 590 370 970 2.1 
			 2000-01(5) 950 480 1,430 2.8 
			 2001-02 1,030 460 1,490 2.7 
			 2002-03 1,120 370 1,480 2.7 
			 2003-04 1,290 370 1,660 3.0 
			 2004-05(6) 1,530 270 1,790 3.2 
			 2005-06(6) 1,710 250 1,960 3.4 
			 (1) Teachers awarded benefits from the Teachers Pension scheme. (2) The effect of the change in the Teachers' Pension scheme as from 31 August 1997 was that many more teachers took early retirement in 1997 than in previous years. Premature includes actuarially reduced benefit retirements from 2000-01. (3) Changes in the statutory regulations governing ill-health retirement came into force on 1 April 1997. To qualify for ill-health retirement benefits a teacher must now be regarded as permanently unfit to teach. (4) Total retirements as a percentage of full-time and part-time teachers in service. (5) For retirement proportions, teacher numbers have been provided from the DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies (618G survey) from 2001-02. Teacher numbers were not available from this, the department's preferred source of teacher numbers, prior to this and therefore have been provided from the Database of Teacher Records. (6) Provisional.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of their component parts because of rounding.  Sources: Database Of Teacher Records (DTR) and DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies (618g)

Teenage Pregnancy

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in each local education authority recorded absences from school as a result of teenage pregnancy in each of the last five years, broken down by ethnic group.

Jim Knight: The information required to answer the question is not available.

Trade Unions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many meetings  (a) he and  (b) his Department's Ministers held with trade union representatives in 2006.

Parmjit Dhanda: According to our records, during 2006  (a) the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, and his predecessor, had 15 meetings with trade union representatives and  (b) Department for Education and Skills' Ministers had a total of 46 meetings with trade union representatives.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departments: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strategy he has put in place for  (a) the use of renewable energy and  (b) meeting energy targets in his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Strategy for use of renewable energy
	Cross-government targets are to source at least 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources by 2008. In 2005-06 DEFRA purchased 63 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources.
	All major new build or refurbishment projects are subject to a sustainability review to ensure they fully embrace the Government's sustainability objectives. Renewable energy is a major element of this process.
	 (b) Strategy for meeting energy targets
	Cross-government targets on carbon emissions and energy efficiency mandate DEFRA to:
	reduce carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000 levels;
	reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent. by 2020, relative to 1999-2000 levels;
	central Government's office estate to be carbon neutral by 2012;
	increase energy efficiency per m(2) by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and
	increase energy efficiency per m(2) by 30 per cent. by 2020, relative to 1999-2000 levels.
	To achieve these targets, DEFRA has signed up to a Carbon Management Programme (CMP). Working with the Carbon Trust, the programme has enabled the Department to develop a systematic approach to carbon management and take a strategic approach to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions through operational improvements, reduced energy costs, staff awareness and monitoring initiatives.
	Utility information systems have enabled the Department to monitor and analyse energy consumption across the estate. This has enabled a focussed approach to identifying significant energy/carbon savings. Pilot projects have recently been implemented with a view to wider rollouts in the near future.

Packaging

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of infringement considered since the introduction of the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 have not resulted in prosecutions.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 16 April 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	Trading Standards investigate many cases of infringement on a range of legislation, the majority of which are dealt with through other means (e.g. meetings with the company or correspondence) than prosecution. Data on unsuccessful prosecution cases and infringements dealt with by other means are not centrally collected with regard to the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Frontiers

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Afghanistan on progress in policing that country's borders; how many border guards are in place; and what surveillance is in use at checkpoints.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with Foreign Minister Spanta and discussed border management with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan during her recent visit to Afghanistan on 28 February to 1 March.
	The issue of policing Afghanistan's borders is covered by the International Police Coordination Board, on which our embassy in Kabul is represented by its chief police adviser. Embassy officials also attend monthly International Police Coordinated Action Group meetings chaired by the German Police Project Office (GPPO).
	Currently the official establishment of the Afghan Border Police (ABP) is set at 12,000. However, should the overall establishment of the Afghan National Police rise from 62,000 to 82,000, as is currently being considered, then the revised establishment of the ABP will increase to 18,000. Presently, the actual number of ABP is approximately 7,900, deployed at 13 official land border crossing points, four international airports (Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif), and within a Quick Reaction Force and their HQ at the Ministry of Interior. In addition to static security at these fixed locations, they attempt to police at least another 400 unofficial land border crossing points located around the country. While it would be inappropriate to comment in detail on the precise surveillance techniques used at the border crossing points, we are aware this remains an area where the potential for major development exists.
	Developing the ABP remains one of the top priorities for the GPPO and will also be covered by the proposed European Security and Defence Policy mission to Afghanistan. The UK will continue to keep a keen interest in the ABP's development given its significance in helping to stem the flow of insurgents and weapons through the eastern and southern border areas, as well as the fight against the narcotic trade and other illicit smuggling activities. On the northern border, the UK is contributing to a European Commission project to build border infrastructure and capacity for the Afghan border police and customs in Badakhshan province.

Departments: EU Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which projects were funded in the last 12 months for which figures are available by  (a) the Committee of the Regions and  (b) the Economic and Social Committee on informing people in the European spirit; and what role her Department has played in the development of such projects in the UK.

Geoff Hoon: The Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organise a number of communication projects. These include the CoR OPENDAYS and the EESC's local stakeholder forums. These are funded from an overall communications budget of €2.2 million per year for the CoR and €900,000 per annum for the EESC. The annual communication budget for both committees does not indicate the funding for individual projects. Although the Foreign and Commonwealth Office leads on the selection of members to the UK delegations to both committees, both institutions act independently of member state governments. The Government have not been actively involved in any initiatives by either Committee.

Departments: EU Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will place in the Library a list of the attendees, with their affiliations, at each of the last five public events that her Department has hosted on European Community matters.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has hosted several events relating to EU issues in recent months. On 23 and 24 March, the FCO hosted a conference organised by the University Association for Contemporary European Studies entitled "Reflections on European Integration: 50 years of the Treaty of Rome".
	On 22 March, I hosted a reception in Lancaster House to mark the EU's 50(th) Anniversary and the launch of 'Learning Together'. This initiative aims to encourage more schools in the UK to take part in educational partnerships with schools across Europe. It will provide schools across the UK with information about the exciting opportunities available. Teachers and heads with experience of joint learning projects with other countries will become "Learning Together Ambassadors", and share their experience with other schools interested in joining.
	On 9 March, the FCO hosted an event organised by the European Youth Parliament. At this event, pupils from secondary schools across the south-east took part in a debating competition on European issues.
	On 16 January, the FCO and Department for Education and Skills hosted a reception to relaunch the Life Long Learning programme. This programme aims to enable learners and trainees to work with their European peers through joint projects, exchanges and work experience.
	On 10 January, the FCO hosted a reception to mark the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU.
	The FCO does not keep records of all event attendees. Guests at the above events were drawn from a range of organisations and included European Ambassadors, representatives from the EU institutions, hon. Members from relevant select committees, teachers, students, representatives from non-governmental organisations and business groups.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by her Department.

Geoff Hoon: The budget administered by Government Hospitality for official ministerial hospitality is carefully managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The head of Government Hospitality is advised on suitable expenditure on stock for the Government cellar, and other hospitality for which the Department is responsible, by the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW). The GHACPW is an advisory non-departmental public body which answers directly to Ministers in the FCO.

EU Action: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government funding grants are available to  (a) think tanks,  (b) youth groups and  (c) campaigning organisations on EU issues; and what funds were allocated to those groups in each of the last two years.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Europe Directorate's EU Communications Budget funds activity in the UK to achieve greater domestic awareness of EU issues and a more mature debate about them. The FCO Europe Directorate and other Directorates provide funding to conferences held at Wilton Park, a non-departmental public body of the FCO, think tanks or other events in the UK, including on EU issues. This funding may come from Directorates' Programme Budgets or the FCO Global Opportunities Fund.
	In the 2005-06 financial year (FY), the following amounts were allocated to such organisations for activity in the UK on EU issues:
	£1,615 to the Foreign Policy Centre for printing the "Europe in a Global Age" publication written by the then Minister for Europe my right hon. Friend, the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, South (Mr. Alexander) (Europe Directorate EU Communications Budget);
	£3,698 in support of European Youth Parliament events (Europe Directorate EU Communications Budget);
	£270,000 to a range of Wilton Park conferences on European issues (Europe Directorate and Consular Directorate Programme Budgets); and
	£10,000 to a Chatham House conference (International Security Directorate European Security and Defence Policy Public Diplomacy Budget).
	In the 2006-07 FY, the following amounts were allocated to such organisations for activity in the UK on EU issues:
	£5,065 in support of European Youth Parliament events (Europe Directorate EU Communications Budget);
	£176 to the Plain English Campaign to audit our website (Europe Directorate EU Communications Budget);
	£300,000 to Wilton Park conferences on European issues (Europe Directorate Programme Budget, Global Opportunities Fund and Global and Economic Issues Programme Budget); and
	£18,000 to a Chatham House Conference on EU-China interdependencies on climate change and energy (Global and Economic Issues Directorate Programme Budget and Central Unit Programme Budget).
	Other FCO-sponsored activity by such organisations may have touched on EU issues. However, this information is not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to confirm.
	Separately, think tanks, youth groups or campaigning groups may apply for funding from the FCO Global Opportunities Fund "Reuniting Europe Programme", for projects that support countries in the EU integration process in their efforts to meet the Copenhagen Criteria, particularly in the fields of improved governance and economic growth. Such organisations may also be involved in activity funded by embassies and consulates throughout Europe in line with their post objectives and the FCO's strategic priorities.

EC Institutions: Visits

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) civil servants,  (b) public officials and  (c) special advisers have been invited on information and study trips hosted by (i) the European Parliament and (ii) the European Commission since May 1997.

Geoff Hoon: The figures requested by the hon. Member are not held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	However, both the Commission and the European Parliament organise visits. For example in 2006 the Commission organised 64 visits from the UK with a total of 1,852 participants, this included visits by civil servants, public officials and special advisers. Figures before 2006 are unavailable. The programmes are tailor-made according to the themes requested by the group and last between a half day and full day. The costs are provided for in the Commission budget.

EU Information and Communication Programmes

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of the EU Information and Communication programmes for non-member countries (EU budget item 22 04 02); what input her Department has to decisions on the allocation of funding; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK does not have a direct input into this programme. However, we support this work which is underscored by the commitment at the 2006 December European Council to ensure
	"broad and sustained public support [for enlargement], which should also be promoted through greater transparency and better communication".
	This budget line funds communication activities on enlargement by the Commission regarding candidate and potential candidate countries. The objective is to enhance support for enlargement, the association and stabilisation processes. It aims to strengthen EU visibility in those countries and generate public support for the reform process during the accession and pre-accession periods. Target groups include the general public, youth, media, opinion leaders and rural population. Further information can be found on the Commission's website at:
	http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/1_077/1_07720070316enl7511753.pdf.

EU: Constitutions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conferences have been held in the UK on the future of the EU Constitution funded by  (a) the EU and  (b) the Government.

Geoff Hoon: Since the French and Dutch referendums on the Constitutional treaty in May and June 2005, there have been two conferences at Wilton Park funded by the Government with a focus on the future of Europe, including the Constitutional treaty.
	"The Enlarged European Union One Year On: Political, Constitutional and Economic Challenges" 4-7 July 2005; and
	"Which way Forward for the European Union?: Political and Constitutional Challenges" 6-8 February 2006.
	Details can be found on the Wilton Park website at www.wiltonpark.org
	The representations of the European Commission and the European Parliament in the UK have organised a range of activities on EU issues. The Government have not worked with the EU institutions to organise any conferences on the future of the Constitutional treaty in this period.

EU: Constitutions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conferences have been held in Brussels funded by  (a) the EU and  (b) the UK Government on the future of the EU Constitution.

Geoff Hoon: The EU Institutions have organised a range of activities on EU issues in Brussels including an inter-parliamentary conference at the European Parliament on 8 May 2006. The Government have not worked with the EU Institutions to organise any conferences on the future of the EU Constitutional treaty in this period.
	Since the French and Dutch referendums on the Constitutional treaty in May and June 2005, there have been no conferences held in Brussels directly funded by the Government on the future of the EU Constitutional treaty.

European Commission: Consultants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultants the European Commission employs to provide advice on  (a) public relations and  (b) information campaigns.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold the information requested.

European Parliament

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding streams are available to the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union for  (a) hosting and  (b) sponsoring (i) events and (ii) organisations locally, under the office's own management and authorisation; what monitoring of spending takes place; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) missions, including the UK Permanent Representation to the EU, have funds for hosting events in support of their objectives. Management of those funds is in accordance with FCO regulations and financial procedures, which include audit and monitoring. Funds for sponsoring events or organisations are provided to some missions to support strategic priorities, but such funds are not provided to the UK Permanent Representation to the EU.

Kazakhstan: Human Rights

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of  (a) the human rights situation in Khazakhstan and  (b) the imprisonment of Mahambet Abzhan and Azamat Zheteisbayev; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will instruct the UK's Ambassador to Kazakhstan to visit Mahambet Abzhan and Asamat Zhetpisbayev to assess  (a) the conditions in which they are being held and  (b) the manner in which they are being treated.

Geoff Hoon: We welcome the steps that the Government of Kazakhstan has taken on human rights and democratic reform since independence. These include a moratorium on the death penalty, progress on prison reform including reduction of the number of persons in detention and the introduction of public monitoring of places of detention, and in December 2005 ratification of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
	Political pluralism has, however, been affected negatively by recent legislation which restricts freedom of expression, association and assembly. The powers of the Parliament and Government and the independence of the judiciary could be further enhanced to introduce checks and balances into the system of administration. In December 2005, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights International Observation Mission noted that despite some administrative improvements, the presidential election did not meet international standards.
	Wherever possible, we look to work with the Kazakh authorities to improve the human rights situation. We have funded projects aimed at improving the conditions in prisons, preventing torture in places of detention and encouraging the abolition of the death penalty. We have continuing dialogue with the Government of Kazakhstan on transparency issues and are working closely with non-governmental organisations on this too. We also stand ready to work with President Nazarbayev on his programme of democratic reforms.
	The OSCE has looked into the cases of Makhambet Abzhan and Azamat Zhetpisbayev and attended several of the related court hearings. We, with the OSCE and the EU, will keep a watching brief on both cases in view of the importance of respect for human rights and good governance in Kazakhstan.

Non-Governmental Organisations: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which non-governmental think tanks and organisations working in the domain of European Communities affairs have received financial support from her Department in the last 12 months.

Geoff Hoon: In addition to those listed in the reply I gave to the hon. Member today (UIN 129259), the following have received support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
	German British Forum;
	UK-German Connection;
	Koenigswinter Conferences;
	International Journalist Programme;
	College of Europe;
	Franco-British Council;
	British Association for Central and Eastern Europe; and
	Birmingham University Contemporary European Studies course.
	In addition a number of organisations have received financial support to deliver capacity building activities in countries and regions that are beneficiaries of the FCO's Global Opportunities Fund Re-Uniting Europe Programme. A full list of the organisations and projects funded and financial support provided is available on the FCO website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1070989565087.

Zambia: Politics and Government

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of  (a) the political situation in  (b) international relations with and  (c) human rights in Zambia; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Zambia held elections at presidential, national assembly and local government level in September 2006. As my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, said on 3 October 2006, we believe that they were conducted in a free and fair manner, and that Zambia had set a strong example to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries by conduct of the elections. The political situation in Zambia remains stable.
	Zambia is a member of the UN, African Union, SADC and other international organisations. We maintain an excellent relationship and active dialogue with Zambia in all these forums.
	Zambia has signed 16 of the International Conventions on human rights. We are encouraging the further enforcement and implementation of these. With our EU partners we continue to press for the abolition of the death penalty. President Mwanawasa has declared that he will not allow executions to take place during his tenure of office. We welcome the positive contributions Zambia has made within the UN Human Rights Council, including on Sudan.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the earliest gestational age at which an unborn child may be capable of being born alive; when her Department last undertook an evidence review on the issue that drew on  (a) UK and  (b) international research; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: While there continue to be medical advances in caring for premature babies, it is very rare for babies born at 22 weeks gestation or under to survive. Data from the 1995 EPICure Study, which followed infants born between 20 and 25 weeks of gestation, found that only 1 per cent. of babies born at 22 weeks of gestation survived to six years of age. A second EPICure study, due to report later this year, will show whether survival rates have changed since 1995.
	The Department regularly reviews evidence on this issue, most recently the Nuffield Council of Bioethics report on critical care decisions in foetal and neonatal medicine, published in November 2006.

Abortion: Euthanasia

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's policy is on  (a) abortion and  (b) assisted suicide; which organisations and individuals she has consulted about each policy; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Parliament has decided that abortions may lawfully be carried out in the circumstances specified in the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
	The Department most recently set out its policy on sexual health, including abortion, in the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV in 2001, and associated documents. In addition, recommended quality standards for the provision of abortion services are included in Recommended Standards for Sexual Health Services, published in 2005. The strategy and the standards document were subject to a public consultation exercise.
	Assisting a person in committing suicide is unlawful under the Suicide Act 1961 and is subject to a penalty of up to 14 years' imprisonment. The Government have no plans to change this legislation. Any proposals to change the law would be dealt with as a matter of conscience.

Abortions: Disabled

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated by her Department on abortions performed on grounds of handicap in  (a) NHS hospitals and  (b) non-NHS hospitals where the unborn child was subsequently found to be without disability or handicap; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not commissioned or evaluated research on abortions performed on the grounds of foetal abnormality where the unborn child was subsequently found not to have an abnormality.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Maidstone

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the likely savings which would result from the closure of the accident and emergency department in Maidstone Hospital.

Caroline Flint: There are no plans to close the accident and emergency unit at Maidstone Hospital.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage the 15 million earmarked to improve alcohol interventions in 2007-08 represents of the total uplift in revenue for primary care trusts (PCTs) for that year; and how much of that funding each PCT has received.

Caroline Flint: The 2006-07 and 2007-08 primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations separately identify 342 million funding in support of public health initiatives, including 15 million for alcohol interventions in 2007-08. 15 million is 0.25 per cent. of the 6 billion uplift in 2007-08 PCT allocations. PCTs have been encouraged to invest additional funding to improve their local arrangements for commissioning and delivering alcohol treatment services based on local need.
	PCTs were informed of their shares of the 342 million funding but not their shares of each initiative.

Anabolic Steroids: Misuse

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department is making in tackling the illegal use of anabolic steroids; and what steps she is taking to make young people aware of the dangers of such use.

Caroline Flint: The Department recognises the harms associated with the misuse of anabolic steroids.
	FRANK, the cross-Government campaign which provides advice to young people in relation to substance misuse, includes information on the harms associated with the misuse of anabolic steroids via its website, helpline and literature.
	The harmful short and long-term effects of anabolic steroid use are also described in the most recent version of the Department publication Dangerousness of drugs: A guide to the risks and harms associated with substance misuse (January 2003).
	The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is responsible for the funding of education programmes in schools. In 2004, DfES published 'Drugs: Guidance for Schools, guidance for primary and secondary schools on all matters relating to drug education and the management of drugs within the school community. This guidance sets out the issues relating to drug education that schools should cover with children of different ages, and includes drugs available on prescription among the substances that this education should cover.
	The table shows prevalence of anabolic steroid use in young people, taken from figures in a school survey of 11 to 16-year-olds, recently published within the headline figures of 'Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2006'.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Anabolic steroids 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 
		
	
	Figures for the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds reporting having used anabolic steroids in the last year is shown in the table. The results have been taken from 'Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2005-06 British Crime Survey(1)' (England and Wales).
	(1) This statistical bulletin reports on the results of 29,932 respondents who completed the drugs module of the BCS and an additional 2,259 16 to 24-year-olds who were interviewed as part of the 2005-06 BCS youth boost.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Year  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Anabolic steroids 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.3 
		
	
	Anabolic steroids are only available legally via prescription and are controlled as a class C drug.
	Anabolic steroids are included on the world anti-doping agencies (WADA) prohibited list. This list sets out the substances that are prohibited for athletes. Educating athletes of all ages about the consequences of doping comprises part of the anti-doping programme, and is delivered through UK Sport's renowned 100 per cent. ME education programme.
	UK Sport, the United Kingdom's national anti-doping organisation runs an anti-doping programme, together with sport's national governing bodies, which is aimed at deterring athletes from using prohibited substances, and to catch those who do. Currently typical sanctions for those caught using prohibited substances range from a two-year ban from sport for a first offence to a lifetime ban for a second.

Audiology Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which those directly employed by the NHS to provide audiology services are working to the same standards set out in the accreditation process for independent sector providers employed through public-private partnerships.

Ivan Lewis: It is important that common standards should apply to national health service services whichever organisation provides them. The Department is working with NHS providers and the independent and voluntary sectors to ensure harmonisation. This work includes the development of education and training programmes for introduction during 2007-08.
	The public private partnership (PPP) was initially set up in October 2003, to enable NHS audiology services to supplement their own capacity as part of the wider modernising hearing aids services programme. The PPP contract stipulated that staff employed to provide services under the PPP must be registered hearing aid dispensers and should be fully trained in the provision of the services detailed within the specification to the same level as audiology staff in the partner NHS trust. In addition, the contractor had to ensure that staff employed to provide services under the PPP complied with the provisions of the Hearing Aid Council's code of practice.
	The PPP ended on 31 March 2007. However, the Department will continue to procure audiology capacity through the independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) schemes. When audiology services are being procured through ISTC schemes, providers have to adhere to the same rigid recruitment protocols as the NHS.

Cannabis: Mental Health

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into links between cannabis use and psychosis.

Caroline Flint: The Department's policy research programme has funded an expert review of the most recent evidence concerning the impact of cannabis use on people with mental health problems, and severe mental illness in particular, and effective interventions aimed at reducing such use. The review has been completed and results will be published shortly.
	In addition, the National Institute for Health Research has recently awarded a 2 million programme grant to support research on improving physical health and reducing substance use, particularly cannabis use, in severe mental illness. Research on cannabis use and psychosis will also form part of the work programme of the institute's South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and Institute of Psychiatry Biomedical Research Centre which the Department is funding from April 2007.

Care Homes: Drugs

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the degree of compliance of general practitioners with the National Service Framework for Older People's requirement for regular reviews of medicines prescribed for older people living in care homes; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	However, under the General Medical Services Quality and Outcomes Framework, 8,052 out of 8,409 general practices (95.8 per cent.) achieved an acceptable level in 2005-06 against the indicator:
	A medication review is recorded in the notes in the preceding 15 months for all patients being prescribed four or more repeat medicines (excluding over the counter and topical medications).

Care Homes: Human Rights

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent residents of  (a) state and  (b) privately-run care homes who are (i) publicly and (ii) privately or self funded are covered by the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Ivan Lewis: A local authority running a care home is under a duty to act in a way which is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights as required by section 6 of the Human Rights Act (HRA), 1998 because a local authority is a public authority for the purposes of that section.
	However, under current case law, the interpretation by of the Court of Appeal of section 6 of the HRA has led to the position that private care homes do not exercise public functions as referred to in that section when providing care and accommodation under contract to a local authority. Such a home is not, therefore, directly subject to the Human Rights Act.
	On the recommendations of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), guidance was published in May 2005 on contracting for services. Councils are expected to take account of the relevant aspects of the HRA in their contracting arrangements, including those with care providers. Residents placed in a private care home under a council contract should, therefore, have their human rights protected through the contract.
	Residents in private care homes who fund the entire cost of their own care are not covered by the provisions of the HRA.

Care Homes: Standards

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the national service framework standards are for review of medication prescribed for the elderly; and what steps have been taken in each of the last five years to achieve compliance with the standards;
	(2)  what steps she has taken  (a) to monitor and  (b) to audit the compliance with national service framework standards for review of medication prescribed for the elderly by care homes;
	(3)  what instructions she has issued to management and staff of care homes for the elderly on compliance with national service framework standards for review of medication;
	(4)  if she will take steps to increase understanding of the national service framework standards for review of medication among residents and their families.

Ivan Lewis: Use of medicines is a fundamental component of each of the national service framework (NSF) standards and there are common medicines elements for every standard. A document entitled 'Medicines for Older People' on implementing medicines-related aspects of the NSF for older people was included with the NSF documents when they were published. No specific information on compliance with the standards is collected centrally. However, national health service trusts are encouraged to make use of the medicines management framework which is specifically designed for hospitals as a self-assessment tool to evaluate processes in place to ensure clinical and cost-effective medicines use. Identifying whether medication review has taken place is generally only possible from patients' medical records.
	Care homes should meet the performance standards and milestones on medicines management set by the National Care Standards Commission. Care homes should seek advice from pharmacists about medicines in line with national minimum standards (NMS) for care homes for older people, and inspection teams' visits to care homes should focus on medicines systems.
	Care homes are governed by the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and associated NMS, which are concerned with ensuring that services are safe and of good quality. The regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, must have regard to the NMS when inspecting care homes to establish compliance with the regulations.
	The regulations and NMS, copies of which are available in the Library, include requirements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines in care homes. The NMS contain specific requirements for staff to monitor the condition of service users on medication, to call in the service user's GP if they are concerned about any change in condition that may be a result of medication, and prompt the review of medication on a regular basis. The NMS are under review at present.

Departmental Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much programme expenditure sponsored by her Department was spent via each of the Government Offices for the Regions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The expenditure for regional public health groups' programme expenditure (direct spend and budget transfers) for the financial year ending 31 March 2006 is in the following table.
	
		
			  Regional director for public health  000 
			 North East 2,113 
			 West Midlands 3,296 
			 North West 3,523 
			 East Midlands 2,513 
			 East of England 2,727 
			 South West 3,400 
			 South East (including South Central) 3,111 
			 London 3,635 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,939 
			   
			 Total 27,257

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed on a consultancy basis in  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its agencies in each of the last five years for which information is available; and what the (i) average and (ii) longest period was for which a consultant was employed in each year.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect information that would identify the numbers of consultants engaged for the years requested. Contracts do not usually specify the precise numbers of consultants and the numbers can vary during a contract.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency does not collate this information and is therefore unable to supply it.
	NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency employs businesses to provide a variety of consultancy services with specific outcomes. It does not monitor consistently which individuals provide the service or how long they spend on the work.

Departments: Advertising

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to  (a) television,  (b) radio and  (c) print media.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The following table outlines cost of departmental campaign advertising in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   million 
			  Campaign  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Antibiotics   0.91  0.44 0.44 0.42  0.39 
			 Blood Donation 0.60 1.70 0.22   
			 Drugs (joint campaign with Home Office)(1)   0.53 0.50  1.52 1.50 1.99 1.26 
			 Flu2.02 1.45 2.0 1.6 1.5 1.85 
			 Hepatitis C  
			 Immunisation 0.67 1.0 2.0 2.00 0.35 
			 Mind Out 0.13 0.16 0.95   
			 National Health Service including nurse recruitment 1.30 4.90 4.21 4.90 5.0 4.23 4.9 5.84 .024 
			 NHS Direct 0.12 0.78 1.24 0.21 1.08 0.58 0.75   
			 Organ donation 0.02 0.77 0.47 0.43 0.18 0.22
			 Prescription fraud  0.38  1.35  0.30
			 Sexwise/teenage pregnancy   0.39  2.00 1.60 2.00   
			 Sexual Health 0.30 1.50 1.50 1.26  
			 Social Care/Worker Recruitment 0.83 1.24 4.62 2.14 2.44 
			 Smoking   6.18 8.97 7.79 7.87 17.34 24.00 22.70 
			 TB Awareness 0.30 0.09
			 Walk-in centres0.37 0.02   0.20  
			 Winter(Get the Right Treatment, Ask about Medicines Day)   1.02 2.03 0.16 0.25 1.75 0.59 0.59 
			 Promoting New NHS Services (formerly Caring in Many Ways)0.85  
			 E1110.320 1.365 
			 (1) Departmental contribution to Frank substance misuse campaign jointly funded by the Department, Home Office and Department for Education and Skills. 
		
	
	The following table outlines the specific costs relating to television, radio and print media for 2004-06 as these are the only two years where we have figures broken down as requested. To provide a breakdown from 2001 would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Breakdown of campaign expenditure 
			   million 
			   TV  Radio  Print media 
			  2004-05
			 NHS Careers Recruitment Campaign 2.03 0.13 3.46 
			 DOH (International) Classified Advertising   0.05 
			 DOH Directories Advertising   0.18 
			 Adult Sexual Health  0.41 0.36 
			 Teenage Pregnancy  0.25 0.03 
			 Tobacco Information Campaign 13.34 2.56 2.90 
			 Wider Access Campaign   0.36 
			 Drugs Advertising 0.52 0.33  
			 Social Work Recruitment Campaign   0.46 
			 Flu Campaign 0.78 0.06 0.54 
			 Social Care Recruitment 1.10  0.18 
			 E111 Awareness   0.24 
			 Health and Social Care Awards Trade Campaign   0.03 
			 
			  2005-06
			 DoH Directories Advertising   0.07 
			 DoH Classified Advertising   0.05 
			 Tobacco EducationSecond Hand Smoke 5.29 1.65 0.67 
			 Tobacco EducationCessation 6.11 0.97 0.74 
			 Tobacco EducationSupport 0.55  0.85 
			 E111 Awareness   0.91 
			 Flu Immunisation 0.78 0.24 0.60 
			 NHS Classified/Recruitment Advertising   0.13 
			 NHS Careers recruitment   0.22 
			 Get the Right Treatment  0.24 0.24 
			 Social Work  0.39 0.20 
			 Social Care 1.09 0.37 0.36 
			 Antibiotics Campaign   0.37 
			 DrugsFrank Campaign (combined totalfunded by Home Office and Health) 1.04 0.40

Departments: Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on  (a) sponsoring newspaper and publication supplements and  (b) funding advertorials in newspapers and publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the topic of each was.

Ivan Lewis: Departmental campaign expenditure for funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in 2005-06: Tobacco Control 46,181; Flu Immunisation 103,665.
	We have not incurred departmental campaign expenditure on sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements.

Departments: Focus Groups

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on focus groups in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: A list of expenditure by the Department on focus groups in each of the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as the Department does not hold this information centrally.
	However, information on focus groups commissioned by the Department's Communications Directorate is available from April 2004. Since April 2004, the Communications Directorate has spent 314,800 on focus groups with the public and national health service staff.
	We are committed to consulting and involving the public and NHS staff to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public service. Responsive public services are an important part of the Modernising Government initiative.

Departments: Office Expenditure

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many litres of bottled water her Department purchased, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement on her Department's provision of water for staff and visitors.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 March 2007
	No detailed records of all bottled water purchases are maintained by the Department.
	Bottled water for the London Administrative estate for hospitality purposes is provided by the Departments catering contractor. There is no record of purchase made for 2004.
	In 2005, 45,738 litres were purchased at a cost of 89,189.10
	In 2006, 52,861 litres were purchased at a cost of 103,078.95
	The Department jointly occupies a building in Leeds for which the Department of Work and Pensions provides the hospitality service. Their contractor is unable to provide the information required.
	Within this building the Department does provide water coolers in their appointed tea points. The only record of costs is for 2006 where the purchase was for; 1,240 x 11 litre bottles at a cost of 6,997.62 (including servicing), 34 x 18 litre bottles at a cost of 303.43 (including servicing).

Departments: Opinion Polls

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on opinion polling in each of the last five calendar years; which polls were conducted; and how much was paid to companies conducting polling.

Ivan Lewis: A list of expenditure on opinion polling in each of the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department does not hold this information centrally.
	However, information on opinion polling commissioned by the Department's Communications Directorate since April 2004 is available in the following table:
	
		
			  Year  Poll  Company  Amount ()  Total() 
			 2007 Public Perceptions of the National Health Service Tracker SurveyMarch 2007 Ipsos MORI 32,900 32,900 
			  
			 2006 Public Perceptions of the NHS Tracker Surveysummer 2006 Ipsos MORI 40,500  
			  Public Perceptions of the NHS Tracker Surveywinter 2006 Ipsos MORI 40,000  
			  Public Monthly Omnibus 2006 Ipsos MORI 13,200  
			  Public Perceptions Baseline Ipsos MORI 5,500  
			  NHS Staff SurveyJanuary 2006 NOP 12,100  
			  NHS Staff SurveyJuly 2006 NOP 38,990  
			  NHS Staff SurveyDecember 2006 GFK NOP 59,150  
			  Departmental Stakeholder SurveyJuly 2006 TNS Social Research 20,000 229,440 
			  
			 2005 Public Perceptions of the NHS Tracker Surveysummer 2005 MORI 32,500  
			  Public Perceptions of the NHS Trackerwinter 2005 MORI 32,500  
			  Public Monthly Omnibus 2005 MORI 18,480  
			  NHS Staff SurveyJuly 2005 NOP 22,725 106,205 
			  
			 2004 Public Perceptions of the NHS Tracker Surveysummer 2004 MORI 32,500  
			  Public Perceptions of the NHS Trackerwinter 2004 MORI 32,500  
			  Public Monthly Omnibus 2004 MORI 13,000 78,000 
		
	
	We are committed to consulting and involving the public, NHS staff and our stakeholders to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public service. Responsive public services are an important part of the Modernising Government initiative.

Departments: Postal Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which postal companies handle mail dispatched by her Department and its agencies.

Ivan Lewis: Royal Mail is the sole contracted mail supplier that handles mail dispatched by the Department and its agencies.

Departments: Press

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the expenditure of her Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's library service is responsible for central purchasing of newspapers, magazines and periodicals for library use and for retention by individual units. Suppliers who have been chosen by competitive tendering every three to five years are used.
	Expenditure details are kept on a central system but it does not differentiate between expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals.
	
		
			  Total expenditure for the financial years 1997-98 onwards 
			   000 
			 1997-98 415,890 
			 1998-99 423,560 
			 1999-2000 419,490 
			 2000-01 423,160 
			 2001-02 469,880 
			 2002-03 356,510 
			 2003-04 350,036 
			 2004-05 380,025 
			 2005-06 395,148 
			 2006-07 (1)343,525 
			 (1 )Estimate of final out-turn

Departments: Surveys

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure was incurred by her  (a) Department,  (b) agencies and  (c) non-departmental bodies in each year since 1997 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if she will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not hold this information centrally and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Departments: Trade Unions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings  (a) she and  (b) her Department's Ministers held with trade union representatives in 2006.

Ivan Lewis: Ministers and civil servants meet many people, including union representatives, as part of the process of policy development and advice. A Minister chairs a monthly meeting with NHS employers and union representatives, the social partnership forum, to promote effective partnership working on the workforce implications of policy.

Drugs: Pilot Schemes

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the pilots on injectable diamorphine prescribing in England; and what data on  (a) outcomes relating to the health of the individuals participating in the pilots and  (b) their offending rates have emerged from the pilots.

Caroline Flint: The Randomised Injectable Opiate Treatment Trial (RIOTT) is currently under way. The National Addiction Centre, supported by Government, is examining injectable diamorphine, injectable methadone and oral methadone treatments in a randomised controlled trial. The trial is due to be completed in 2008. The results on outcomes will only be published after completion of the trial and following peer review.

Eyesight: Testing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what age her Department recommends that children should receive eye check-ups.

Ivan Lewis: All children should have their eyes examined at birth and again at six to eight weeks by a health visitor or nurse. The national service framework for children, young people and maternity services recommends an optometrist-led screening programme for children aged four and five.

Female Genital Mutilation

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for the effects of recent female genital mutilation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: This information is not collected centrally.

Health Services: Disabled

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national minimum standards the Government set for the provision of care to disabled people by local authorities; and what mechanisms the Department uses to ensure that there are no regional variations in the provision of such services.

Ivan Lewis: All of the national minimum standards that the Government set apply to providers of services to disabled people.
	The regulations and the national minimum standards ensure that providers across the country are inspected and regulated according to consistent, nationally applied standards. The Commission for Social Care Inspection, which regulates social care, has strong enforcement powers and will take action if necessary to protect the welfare of all service users.

Health Services: Publications

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the Audit Commission to publish the result of its investigation into the Fair Access to Care Services guidance.

Ivan Lewis: We are not aware of any plans by the Audit Commission to conduct a national investigation of Fair Access to Care Services guidance.

Health Services: Publications

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of publicising and marketing the End Waiting, Change Lives initiative.

Ivan Lewis: The total cost of publicising and marketing the End Waiting, Change lives initiative during the financial year ending 2006-07 was 164,100.

Hearing Aids: Greater London

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the waiting time for digital hearing aid assessments in  (a) Bexley and  (b) Bromley; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This is a local matter but we are aware that both Bexley and Bromley are experiencing long waiting times for digital hearing aid assessments.
	To address this, the Lewisham hospital national health service trust and Queen Mary' Sidcup NHS trust, which treat Bexley patients, are replacing a vacant post by that of a locum audiologist, two audiologists are being trained to fit digital hearing aids and the systems are being restructured to be more efficient. These measures are expected to substantially reduce the backlog by summer.
	Bromley Hospital NHS trust, which treats Bromley patients, has taken action by arranging for private sector treatment, by increasing staff numbers and improving clinical and administrative processes.

Home Helps

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2007 to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire,  Official Report, column 129W, on home helps, how many people received home help in the sample week in each year from 1997 to 2006; and how many hours were delivered in the sample week in 2006.

Ivan Lewis: We are only able to provide information relating to the publicly funded home care. This information is included in the following table. This information was first collected in 2000. Data for 2006 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Estimated number( 1)  of clients receiving home help during a sample week in September, 2000 to 2005, England 
			   Number of clients 
			 2000 414,700 
			 2001 395,500 
			 2002 382,000 
			 2003 373,700 
			 2004 368,600 
			 2005 367,700 
			 (1) Rounded numbers  Notes: 1. The table contains estimates for missing data. 2. Clients receiving home care purchased with a direct payment are excluded.  Source: HH1 return, table 3A

Hospital Beds

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress in the provision of community and domiciliary support to facilitate reductions in average hospital lengths of stay.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 29 March 2007
	The Government are committed to reducing the number of patients who are delayed in hospital, when they could be better cared for elsewhere. Councils and their national health service partners have already made significant progress in reducing delays in hospital. Between September 2001 and December 2006, the number of people over the age of 75 delayed in hospital reduced from 5,673 to 1,651a reduction of 71 per cent. Total delays for the same period were reduced from 7,065 to 2,190a reduction of 69 per cent.
	Intermediate care can be used to facilitate discharge from hospital, reducing the period of time the individual has to stay there. This aims to help speed recovery, re-establish the individual's independence and maintain social and community links. It can be used to respond to, or avert, a health crisis and thereby act as an alternative to hospital admission. This policy also has the effect of reducing demand on secondary care resources, making beds available and reducing the likelihood of readmission. As at 31 March 2006, there were 29,644 intermediate care places, benefiting over 393,000 people.
	A key goal of the White Paper, Our health, our care, our say, is to provide better prevention and early intervention for improved health, independence and well-being. Support for implementation is being provided by various pilot sites. These include 30 care closer to home demonstrations that are working across six specialties to offer more care in community settings, including step-down facilities allowing people to be discharged from hospital to facilities near their home.

Hospitals: Voluntary Organisations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to encourage the formation of not-for-profit organisations to run non-medical services for patients; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government's vision of a modern health and social care system is to develop a cost-effective, fair and transparent commissioning-led environment in which commissioners ensure the provision of flexible and responsive services through an increasingly diverse range of providers, including the third sector (voluntary and community sector, social enterprise and other not-for-profit organisations).
	The Commissioning Framework for health and well-being, published for consultation on 6 March 2007, sets out the proposed model for health and social care commissioning from April 2008 and how commissioners should procure effectively and fairly from a wide range of providers and actively shape the provider market. We are supporting the development of third sector and social enterprise approaches to service delivery though Section 64 General Scheme of Grants and the Social Enterprise Fund.

Hyperactivity: Drugs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what her policy is on the use of methylphenidate drugs in the treatment of children over the age of six and adolescents who suffer from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in England were diagnosed as suffering from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Ivan Lewis: In March 2006, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidance on the use of drugs to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). NICE has estimated that around 5 per cent. of school-aged children meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, equivalent to 366,000 children and adolescents in England and Wales, but not all these children will require medication.
	NICE has recommended that drug treatment for ADHD should only be initiated by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional with expertise in ADHD and should be based on a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis. Continued prescribing and monitoring of drug treatment may be performed by general practitioners, under shared care arrangements. Drug therapy should only be part of a comprehensive treatment programme that includes advice and support to parents and teachers.
	Information is not collected on the number of people diagnosed with ADHD.

Influenza: Vaccination

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the possible effects of administering Tamiflu to  (a) 25 per cent.,  (b) 50 per cent. and  (c) 75 per cent. of the population in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak with an attack rate of (i) 25 per cent., (ii) 30 per cent., (iii) 40 per cent., (iv) 50 per cent. and (v) 75 per cent.

Rosie Winterton: Predicting the effect of the administration of Tamiflu is dependent on whether or not the unknown virus will be sensitive to Tamiflu, the clinical attack rate, the characteristic complications profile of the as-yet unknown virus, the antiviral policy (such as targeted treatment or treating everyone), other interventions, and the effect of antivirals and other interventions on reducing spread. It is not a fixed figure. We use 25 per cent., 35 per cent. and 50 per cent. as our standard raw clinical attack rates for planning purposes because the pandemics of the 20th century had attack rates between 25 per cent. and 35 per cent. in the UK whereas 50 per cent. is the reasonable worst case.
	Overall, on prescribed medical and scientific advice, the administration of antivirals is expected to reduce the proportion of clinical cases who require hospitalisation and the case fatality ratepossibly by up to 50 per cent. In such calculations many assumptions need to be made, of which only two are that Tamiflu will be as effective against a pandemic strain as against seasonal influenza, and that antiviral treatment will reach the patient within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Insulin

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions her Department has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence regarding a future work programme on insulin treatments;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on its future work programme on insulin treatments;
	(3)  what discussions her Department has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence regarding its future work programme on insulin treatments.

Caroline Flint: Departmental officials routinely discuss with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence a wide range of potential topics for inclusion in the Institute's work programme.

Legal Advice

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the Department on external legal advice in each of the past five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, Department figures for the cost of external legal services procured by the Department's own lawyers is set out in the table.
	
		
			   
			   Net  VAT  Total 
			 2002-03 1,407,890.39 163,040.69 1,570,958.01 
			 2003-04 1,540,718.46 244,872.77 1,785,590.23 
			 2004-05 1,145,224.50 133,346.73 1,278,162.10 
			 2005-06 1,631,254.29 165,638.80 1,816,955.84 
			  Source: Department of Health Solicitors Unit

Medicine

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it costs to provide all medical students with copies of each edition of the British National Formulary in each of the past three years; and what the forecast cost is for 2007-08.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 March 2007
	The following table shows the amount allocated to fund the provision of a copy of the British National Formulary in each of the years from 2004-05 to 2006-07.
	
		
			  Funding for the provision of the British National Formulary to medical students 
			   Allocation  ( 000 ) 
			 2004-05 100 
			 2005-06 110 
			 2006-07 125 
		
	
	There is no allocation to fund the provision of the British National Formulary in 2007-08.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the letter of 29 January 2007 from the right hon. Member for Manchester Gorton with regards to Ms. E. Waite.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend replied on 30 March 2007.

MRSA

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the potential incidence of MRSA and like infections in GPs' surgeries.

Ivan Lewis: The Department is not at present funding studies that relate specifically to methicillin resistant s taphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and general practitioners' premises. Much of the current research aimed at improving our understanding of environmental influences on infection spread, and on cleaning and decontamination methods, will however be relevant to that setting. Additionally, the increasing recognition of the need to improve our understanding of spread of MRSA within the community will influence future research priorities.

NHS: Finance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) projects were successfully completed in each year since the scheme was introduced; what the  (a) shortest and  (b) longest period of time has been for completion of a LIFT project from commissioning phase to operational opening; what lessons her Department has learned to achieve better value for money and effectiveness for future LIFT schemes; and how best practice is disseminated to partners within LIFT schemes.

Andy Burnham: The first National Health Service Local Improvement Finance Trusts (LIFT) schemes became operational in 2004. The following table provides information on schemes successfully completed from 2004, broken down by year.
	
		
			   Number of new LIFT facilities open to patients 
			 2004 4 
			 2005 46 
			 2006 56 
			 2007(1) 57 
			 (1) This is total number of buildings that are expected to open in 2007. This includes those opened by 31 March and those expected to open in the remainder of the year. 
		
	
	Information is not collected centrally on the time scale from the commissioning phase of construction to the building opening to patients.
	Individual LIFT schemes currently demonstrate that they are value for money through two routes: the LIFT company being established as a result of a competitive procurement, as a result of which an initial tranche of schemes are priced; and on an on-going basis, through the annual lease plus payment for each scheme being signed off by the district valuer as value for money in comparison with other similar facilities in the locality.
	The Committee of Public Accounts report of 2006 made the point that value for money of both the LIFT programme and its schemes needed to be measured more effectively. The Department is currently addressing this by developing a database to benchmark the constituent costs of LIFT schemes and also by introducing the use of a public sector comparator in the business case for any single LIFT facility with a capital value in excess of 20 million.
	Partnerships for Health, working with the Department, has developed a network for the public sector procurement teams to share learning, best practice and drive continuous improvement.

NHS: ICT

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the lifetime contract value is of the National Programme for Information Technology, broken down by major cost area; and how much has been spent in each cost area.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table
	
		
			   million 
			  Programme area  Lifetime contract value  Expenditure to 31 December 2006 
			 Spine 620 310.7 
			 N3 broadband network 530 228.2 
			 Choose and Book core contract 64.5 33.2 
			 London local service provider (LSP) 996 39.1 
			 North East LSP 1,099 82.8 
			 North-west/West Midlands LSP 973 184.8 
			 Eastern LSP 934 94.8 
			 Southern LSP 986 27.9 
			
			 Total 6,202.5 1001.5

Nutrition: EC Law

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department holds a definitive list of when each EU member state intends to close its list for receiving health claims made under article 13 of regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

Caroline Flint: The regulation allows member states until 31 January 2008 to submit their lists of health claims under article 13. The Food Standards Agency opened the United Kingdom list in October, prior to the publication of the regulation, and intends to close the UK list in September in order to allow time for claims to be assessed for eligibility and put into a format that can be submitted to the Commission. The agency does not hold a definitive list of when each European Union member state will close its list.

Nutrition: EC Law

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures her Department is considering to support small and medium-sized enterprises to comply with the requirements of regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency has worked closely with the Small Business Service and in consultation with small businesses to find ways to help them comply with the regulation. The Agency is currently out to consultation on detailed guidance on compliance, which it has sought to tailor to the needs of small businesses. In addition, the Agency has decided to make public the developing list of United Kingdom health claims on its website, which should help small businesses monitor what claims are available for general use and help them co-ordinate efforts to register missing claims.
	The regulation refers to the importance of small businesses in the European food industry, and makes it a requirement for the Commission, in close co-operation with the European Food Safety Authority, to make available technical guidance and tools to assist them in the preparation and presentation of an application for authorisation of a claim. The UK is pressing for early publication of this guidance.

Ophthalmic Services: Children

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve ophthalmic services for children; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Free sight tests are available under the national health service for children under 16 and those aged 16-18 in full time education. Sight tests allow the opportunity to review all aspects of eye health, including investigations for signs of disease.
	The National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services set out a 10-year programme to improve children's services. The NSF highlighted a need for an orthoptist-led programme for pre-school vision screening. Local agencies have the flexibility to plan and prioritise how the NSF standards should be met.

Radiography: Manpower

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographers there were in the NHS in January  (a) 1997,  (b) 2001 and  (c) 2007 in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) England.

Ivan Lewis: The number of radiographers in the specified areas are shown in the table for 1997, 2001 and 2005 as these are the latest data available.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: qualified radiography staff in England and each specified strategic health authority (SHA) area by area of work as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   1997  2001  2005 
			 England 11,771 12,706 14,539 
			 Diagnostic radiography staff 10,364 11,163 12,700 
			 Therapeutic radiography staff 1,407 1,543 1,839 
			  Of which:
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority area 1,278 1,396 1,610 
			 Diagnostic radiography staff 1,154 1,246 1,444 
			 Therapeutic radiography staff 124 150 166 
			  Of which:
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 309 313 425 
			 Diagnostic radiography staff 287 289 399 
			 Therapeutic radiography staff 22 24 26 
			  Note: North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire figures are for the old SHA area.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical work force census.

Royal Surrey County Hospital

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations her Department has received about possible closure of the Royal Surrey County hospital.

Caroline Flint: The Department is aware of approximately 2,017 letters about the future of the Royal Surrey County hospital.

Smoking

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to  (a) primary care trusts,  (b) acute hospital trusts,  (c) strategic health authorities,  (d) mental health trusts,  (e) ambulance trusts and  (f) local authorities to implement the smoking ban provisions of the Health Act 2006; and how spending of this funding is being monitored.

Caroline Flint: The national health service has been smokefree since 1 January 2007, in line with commitments set out in the Choosing Health White Paper published in 2004. The Department has, therefore, not identified any specific funding for NHS bodies to implement the smokefree requirements set out in the Health Act 2006. NHS bodies will receive materials from the Department to support them in preparing for the introduction of smokefree legislation.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1698W for information on funding for local authorities.

Social Marketing

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the NHS spent on social marketing in England in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Services: Cornwall

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust's, or its predecessors', budget was for each year from 2001; and what departmental funding was provided each year over the same period for adult social care in Cornwall.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 29 March 2007
	 The total resource limit, which is made up of revenue and capital for each of the financial years from 2001-02 to 2005-06 for the predecessors of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust (PCT) is shown in table one. The most recent period for which figures are available is 2005-06. The figures have been extracted from the audited final accounts of the relevant PCTs. Central Cornwall PCT and North and East Cornwall PCT were established in 2001-02 but did not become operational until 1 April 2002. Therefore, no final accounts were submitted for 2001-02. Central Cornwall PCT was the successor to Carrick PCT therefore figures for Carrick PCT for 2001-02 have been included.
	The majority of Cornwall's social care spending is funded from the formula grant which contributes to all local government services. Specific grant funding from the Department for social care from 2001-02 to 2005-06 is shown in table two.
	
		
			  Table one: Primary care trust (pct) total (revenue and capital) resource limits 2001 to 2006 
			  000 
			   Total resource limit 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 West of Cornwall 99,590 135,304 151,104 171,687 195,782 
			 Central Cornwall 0 181,767 184,983 217,851 245,817 
			 North and East Cornwall 0 142,349 138,676 167,136 196,248 
			 Carrick 61,488 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 161,078 459,420 474,763 556,674 637,847 
			  Source: Audited PCT Summarisation Schedules (ASFs) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table two: Revenue grants to Cornwall from the Department 
			   Total ( million) 
			 2001-02 5.28 
			 2002-03 14.58 
			 2003-04 15.65 
			 2004-05 21.64 
			 2005-06 20.34

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many overseas establishments in the  (a) EU and  (b) USA are approved by his Department as sources of primates imported for research; and how many of these establishments comply fully with International Primatological Society guidelines for the acquisition, care and breeding of non-human primates;
	(2)  which overseas establishments outside the EU and USA are approved by his Department as sources of primates imported for research; and how many of these establishments comply fully with International Primatological Society guidelines for the acquisition, care and breeding of non-human primates.

Joan Ryan: There are two breeding and supply centres within the European Union that are accepted as suitable sources of non-human primates intended for use in scientific procedures in the United Kingdom, none in the USA, and five outside the European Union. It is not Home Office policy to name overseas supply centres.
	The guiding principle applied in appraising overseas breeding and supply centres is that they should meet the relevant standards set out in the Home Office code of practice for the housing and care of animals in designated breeding and supplying establishments at least in respect of animals destined for the United Kingdom. Minor deviations from those standards, such as minor variations in cage heights, may be acceptable provided that they do not have adverse consequences for the welfare of the animals at the centre.
	The International Primatological Society (IPS) guidelines for the acquisition, care and breeding of non-human primates are not a set of minimum compliance criteria for supplying animals for use in the United Kingdom. Rather, they are considered to provide guidance on good practice to which all breeders of non-human primates should aspire. Except where they differ from the requirements of the United Kingdom code of practice, Home Office policy is that compliance by overseas centres with the IPS guidelines is generally expected and overseas centres are required to identify any areas in which they do not meet the standards of the IPS guidelines when seeking acceptance as suppliers to the United Kingdom. However, not all of the IPS guidelines are appropriate in all circumstances. For example, providing a fixed light-dark cycle cannot apply where, as is the case in many source countries, animals experience natural daylight/day length throughout the year.
	Providing that any deviation from the UK code of practice provisions does not have a material adverse effect on animal welfare, centres may be deemed acceptable as overseas sources. On this basis, all of the overseas supply centres currently accepted by the Home Office as suitable sources of non-human primates are judged to have appropriate animal welfare standards, even though they do not comply with every provision of the code of practice and IPS guidelines.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been resolved from the backlog of asylum seekers whose cases have failed since July 2006; and what his most recent estimate is of the backlog of such cases.

Liam Byrne: Information on asylum applications, initial decisions and appeals by nationality are published quarterly and annually. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The Chief Executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 19 February with an update on the Legacy Programme announced by the Home Secretary in his statement to Parliament on 19 July 2006. A copy of the letter is in the Library.

Asylum: Iraq

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what package of assistance has been provided by the Government for failed Iraqi asylum applicants under the UK enforced returns programme in each year since 2004.

Liam Byrne: Enforced returns to Iraq commenced in accordance with the memorandum of understanding in 2005. The package of support provided includes a small cash sum in pocket money, onward ground transportation to people's home towns or villages, and the opportunity to participate in a re-skilling programme designed to fit them for employment in Iraq.

Asylum: Iraq

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from  (a) the United Nations,  (b) other international organisations and  (c) the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on the consequences of returning Iraqi asylum seekers in the UK to Iraq; what responses he has made; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: UNHCR in their December 2006 position paper advised that no Iraqi from southern or central Iraq should be forcibly returned to Iraq until such time as there is substantial improvement in the security and human rights situation in the country. When considering the return of Iraqis from the three northern governorates of Iraq, UNHCR advise that returns should be conducted in a phased and orderly manner, closely co-ordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) authorities. At present we are enforcing the removal of only those individuals who are from the KRG area of Iraq, which is in line with the UNHCR position.
	Ministers and officials from the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have discussed the issue of returning Iraqi failed asylum seekers to Iraq with the Kurdish Regional Government on a number of occasions.

Asylum: Iraq

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring mechanism has been put in place of failed Iraqi asylum applicants returned to Iraq under the UK voluntary returns programme since 2004.

Liam Byrne: For those Iraqis returning under the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP) and availing themselves of reintegration assistance, there is a monitoring exercise that takes place three months, six months and 12 months into the implementation of their reintegration activity.
	Therefore an individual who chooses to set up a business would be contacted/visited within three, six and 12 months of the establishment of the activity. After one year, the monitoring ceases.

Asylum: Travel

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process travel documents for asylum seekers with exceptional leave to remain in the UK when applying for permission to leave and return to the United Kingdom was in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only by interrogating individual records to establish a breakdown of decisions by document type, which would incur disproportionate cost. The performance targets for processing all types of travel document applications are:
	70 per cent. dispatched in 20 working days; and
	90 per cent. dispatched in 70 working days.
	The latest performance data available for February 2007 are:
	91 per cent. dispatched in 20 working days; and
	95 per cent. dispatched in 70 working days.

British Nationality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions the Chancellor of the Exchequer consulted him before making his speech on requiring immigrants to complete community service before becoming British citizens.

Liam Byrne: Ministers routinely discuss matters that may be of interest across their respective Departments.

Departments: St George's Day

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to celebrate St. George's day.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office flies the Union flag on St. Georges day.

Driving Offences: Courts

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many driving offences were tried in  (a) magistrates courts and  (b) Crown courts in each of the last five years; and what average penalty was handed down in each case.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 March 2007
	Information on proceedings, convictions and sentences imposed at criminal courts for motoring offences can be found in the annual Home Office publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables' (latest available covers 2004). Copies are available in the Library. The publication is available on the Research Development and Statistics (RDS) website.
	The main website addresses are:
	2000: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/motosupps00.pdf
	2001: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosbsuptab303.pdf
	2002: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb0504supps.pdf
	2003: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb0605supp.pdf
	2004: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb0506supp.pdf
	2005 data will be available later this year.

Drugs: Rehabilitation Centres

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of his Department's overall drugs treatment budget is spent on residential rehabilitation beds.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	The commissioning for residential rehabilitation is carried out at local level and the funding for it comes via a number of streams. It is therefore not possible to identify how much of the pooled treatment budget is spent on residential rehabilitation beds.

Foreign Prisoners

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners being held in HM prisons are  (a) non-British EU nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals.

Liam Byrne: Figures showing the numbers of  (a) non-British European Union nationals and  (b) non-European Union foreign national prisoners held in all prisons in England and Wales on 31 January 2007 can be found in the following table.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Non-British European Union nationals and non-European foreign national prisoners held in prison establishments in England and Wales as at 31 January 2007 
			   Number 
			 Non-British EU nationals 2,480 
			 Non-EU foreign nationals 8,874 
			 Not recorded 904 
			 UK nationals 67,361 
			 Total 79,619 
		
	
	The following is a link to show European Union membership:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1139991776535

Foreign Prisoners

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted prisoners in England and Wales are  (a) illegal immigrants and  (b) non-British citizens whose entitlement to be in the UK is in doubt; and what percentage of the total number of convicted prisoners each category represents.

Liam Byrne: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out on 23 May 2006 in a written ministerial statement that there is currently no unique personal identifier for individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice, immigration and asylum systems.
	Information about the immigration status of persons convicted of a crime is therefore not routinely collated or held centrally by the Department and only available at disproportionate cost.
	The Border and Immigration Agency and the criminal justice agencies are testing new processes for establishing and recording nationality within the criminal justice system. In the longer term the National Identity scheme offers a way of moving towards a comprehensive approach to identity management across all our systems.

Highly Skilled Migrants Programme

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason changes to the highly skilled migrants programme are to be applied retrospectively; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The changes made to the highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP) last year are not being applied retrospectively. The criteria which individuals need to satisfy are those in place at the time they make their application: grants of leave made before the changes are not being re-assessed under the new criteria.

Identity Cards

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish a code of practice on penalties under section 34 of the Identity Cards Act 2006.

Joan Ryan: An initial draft code of practice was published for information during the passage of the Identity Cards Bill in December 2005 and can be viewed on the Identity and Passport Service website at:
	http://www.identitycards.gov.uk/downloads/05-12-05_DRAFT_Code_of_Practice.pdf
	This initial draft does not reflect the changes that were subsequently made to the Identity Cards Bill before it obtained Royal Assent in March 2006 and so a further revised draft will be published for consultation in due course and before the code of practice is laid before Parliament for approval.

Identity Cards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were  (a) arrested,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) convicted of an offence under section 25 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 in each month since its coming into force; how many and what percentage of those convicted received custody; how many of those who received custody received (i) 0 to six months imprisonment, (ii) six to 12 months imprisonment, (iii) 12 to 18 months imprisonment and (iv) over 18 months imprisonment; and of those convicted how many received a recommendation for deportation.

Joan Ryan: Section 25 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 created new criminal offences relating to the possession of false identity documents and came into force on 7 June 2006.
	Information on arrests for recorded crime offences under section 25 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 is not separately identifiable within the arrests collection held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. The collection is based on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by main offence group (i.e. fraud and forgery, violence against the person, robbery, burglary, criminal damage etc.) only. The Crown Prosecution Service has no defendant-based information relating to particular offences.
	Court proceedings data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Compensation

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the largest sum was paid by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to a member of the public in settlement of a compensation claim in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Gentleman on 21 March.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the members are of the Employers Task Force on the points-based system for immigration control.

Liam Byrne: A list of the current members of the taskforce is in the following table.
	
		
			  Membership list for the Employers Taskforce 
			  Name  Position  Organisation 
			 Caroline Waters Director of People and Policy British Telecom 
			 Nickie Titterington Head of Employee Relations BUPA Care Services 
			 Jonathan Ferrar HR Director for the UK IBM 
			 Sandra Ellis Head of Visas and Work Permits Shell International 
			 Helen Stacey Director SMART Recruitment 
			 Lindsey Barras Director Citigroup 
			 Naomi Corrie Hobbs Executive Director Co-Head of EMEA Global Mobility Services Goldman Sachs 
			 Sarah Buttler Director Global Ernst and Young 
			 Manabu Ozawa Director Honda Manufacturing 
			 Tracy Yates Partner for Immigration Eversheds Plc. 
			 Peter Sewell Group Personnel Manager Tesco Plc 
			 Louvain Alien Director Bechtel 
			 Ruth Harper Head of Corporate Communications Manpower UK Ltd. 
			 Keith Sharp Associate Director Nasscom 
			 Tom Hughes Managing Director Raymond Lamb Ltd. 
			 Tom Moran Senior Policy Advisor Confederation of British Industry 
			 Sam Bamford Head if EU and International Relations Department Trade Union Congress 
			 Tom Hadley Director External Relations Manager Recruitment and Employment Confederation 
			 Martin Couchman Deputy Chief Executive British Hospitality Association 
			 Martin Green Director English Community Care Association 
			 Kamal Rahman Director Indian Business Group 
			 Foluke Ajayi Head NHS Careers and Workforce Supply NHS Employers NHS Employers 
			 Paul Deemer Director NHS Employers 
			 John Baker Assistant Director, Management Skills and Leadership Department for Trade and Industry 
			 Simon Lovett Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ukvisas 
			 Neil Chrimes Head of Strategy and Programmes City of London Corporation 
			 Richard Stirling  HM-Treasury 
			 Aaron Tsui  HM-Treasury

Immigration and Visa Applications

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is on the future appeals system for failed visa applications; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Those who are refused entry clearance to come to the UK under the new points-based system will not have full rights of appeal. In cases where entry clearance is refused, unsuccessful applicants will be able to apply for an administrative review of the refusal. The entry clearance officer's refusal notice will set out precisely why the decision has been made, referring back to the criteria for which points are awarded. When applying for administrative review the applicant must set out which aspect of the decision, as justified in the refusal letter, was incorrect. Administrative review will provide applicants with a swift and effective remedy where a factual error has been made.
	Family visitors and dependants are not covered by the points-based system.

Immigration: EC Enlargement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodology is used to estimate the number of residents from accession states who are in the UK.

Liam Byrne: Since Parliament unanimously approved the Free Movement of People Directive in 2006 accession nationals have the right of free movement across the UK.
	The Home Office has not made an estimate of the number of residents from accession states that are in the UK.

IND Policy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken on the recommendation of the Home Affairs Select Committee on 13 July 2006 that the Immigration and Nationality Directorate should re-examine its policy of not providing information to third parties.

Liam Byrne: I am currently actively reviewing our policy in this area.

Internal Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which internal Home Office reviews have been instigated since 6th May 2005; which of those reviews  (a) have been completed and  (b) are ongoing; and what the estimated cost is of conducting each review.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 January 2007
	To identify every review that falls under this broad category of internal Home Office reviews could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Migrant Workers: Agriculture

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people entered the UK under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin; and if he will estimate the number of those workers who failed to return to their country of origin in each year.

Liam Byrne: Statistics are recorded on the nationality of persons admitted to the UK under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme. These are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Passengers( 1)  given leave to enter the UK: seasonal agricultural workers, 1996 to 2005( 2) 
			  Nationality  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001( 3)  2002( 4)  2003  2004( 5)  2005( 2) 
			  Europe   
			 Bulgaria 510 1,150 1,050 1,185 1,290 1,100 1,730 1,965 1,580 2,425 
			 Cyprus 5*   *   
			 Czech Republic 205 295 270 270 250 575 520 385 5  
			 Estonia 90 155 180 115 125 265 305 485 45  
			 Hungary 55 75 105 95 100 75 100 80 20  
			 Latvia 90 230 250 290 340 590 985 1,635 1,085  
			 Lithuania 710 1,250 1,435 1,375 1,255 515 2,090 2,615 795  
			 Poland 2,120 3,660 3,690 3,470 3,195 3,760 4,485 6,175 1,620  
			 Romania 130 285 190 315 305 125 330 545 750 1,440 
			 Slovakia 545 835 785 310 365 420 815 845 5  
			 Russia 290 190 105 130 215 255 625 1,005 1,645 1,940 
			 Ukraine 540 795 1,015 1,670 1,835 135 3,640 3,235 4,980 4,460 
			 Other former USSR 70 140 145 205 420 310 865 1,340 2,045 2,385 
			 Switzerland * *  * * * 
			 Turkey 50 40 20 30 25 45 25 55 5 15 
			 Croatia  * * *  * * *  * 
			 Slovenia * 5 10 * 5 10 5
			 Serbia and Montenegro(6) * *  * * * * 5 95 75 
			 Other former Yugoslavia 30 50 85 140 125 55 80 60 50 40 
			 Other Europe   * 5 *  * * 105 60 
			 Total Europe 5,440 9,155 9,340 9,610 9,855 8,240 16,600 20,430 14,830 12,845 
			
			  Americas   
			 Argentina   5 * 5 *   *  
			 Brazil * *   * * *  5 * 
			 Canada  5   * 5 5 *  5 
			 Colombia   * * *  
			 Jamaica*   
			 Mexico  *   * * 
			 Peru *  * *  * 
			 USA  5 *  5 * 10 * 5 10 
			 Venezuela *  
			 Other Americas  5 *  * * 15 10 * * 
			 Total Americas * 10 5 * 10 10 30 15 20 20 
			
			  Africa   
			 Algeria  * 
			 Angola * * 
			 Congo Dem. Rep.   *
			 Egypt * 5 * * *  
			 Ethiopia  5  *   
			 Ghana 15 15 10 15 10 10 * * 5 5 
			 Kenya 5 5 5 5 5 * 5 5 5 5 
			 Libya  * 
			 Mauritius   * 5  * 
			 Morocco * * * * *  * 5  * 
			 Nigeria 5 5  * * * * * *  
			 Sierra Leone * *  *   
			 Somalia*   
			 South Africa* *  * * * 5 
			 Sudan   * * *  
			 Tanzania 20 15 10 5 10 5 5 5 * 5 
			 Tunisia 5 5 * *  * 5 *   
			 Uganda 5  * * *  * 5 * 5 
			 Zambia  *   *  
			 Zimbabwe*  * 
			 Other Africa 15 10 10 25 25 15 15 10 10 20 
			 Total Africa 75 60 45 55 55 35 35 45 30 45 
			
			  Asia   
			 Bangladesh * *  5  *   * 5 
			 India *  * * 5 10 10 15 20 * 
			 Pakistan * * * *  ** 
			 Iran  * *
			 Iraq  * 
			 Israel  *  *   
			 Jordan  5 5 *   
			 Lebanon  *  5 * * 
			 Syria*  * 
			 Yemen   *
			 Other Middle East * * *   ** 
			 China 5   10 30 30 70 45 *  
			 Hong Kong*   
			 Indonesia  * 
			 Japan * 5 *  *   5 *  
			 Malaysia   *   * 
			 Philippines *  * * 5  
			 South Korea *  5  * 5 
			 Sri Lanka 5 * * * * * 5 *  * 
			 Thailand   *   * 
			 Other Asia * 5 * 25 110 30 80 70 45 35 
			 Total Asia 15 20 10 45 145 70 175 140 75 55 
			
			  Oceania   
			 Australia 5  5 5 5 * 15 10 20 10 
			 New Zealand  * 5 * * *  10 5 * 
			 Total Oceania 5 * 5 10 5 5 15 20 25 10 
			
			 Nationality unknown 10 30 40 35 30 30 55 65 60 10 
			
			 All nationalities 5,545 9,275 9,450 9,760 10,105 8,390 16,910 20,715 15,040 12,985 
			 (1) Those subject to immigration controls, and relates to passenger journeysso that a person entering the UK more than once in a given year is counted on each occasion if given fresh leave. (2) Provisional and subject to change. (3) Data for 2001 may understate the actual arrivals due to data quality issues in recording the entry of persons under the scheme. (4) From 1 June 2002, EEA states conferred on nationals of Switzerland the same rights as those enjoyed by EEA nationals. (5) Includes the A10 accession states before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. (6) Serbia and Montenegro (SAM) replaced Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) from 5 February 2003. SAM comprises the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro and the Province of Kosovo (administered by the UN on an interim basis since 1999).  Note: Figures rounded to the nearest five with * = less than three and  = nil, as such figures may not sum to the totals shown.

Offensive Weapons

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many incidents of recorded violent crime a crossbow was used as an offensive weapon in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available centrally. Offences involving crossbows cannot be identified in the recorded crime statistics.

Offensive Weapons

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the power to authorise stop and search for offensive weapons within a specified area for the period of 24 hours under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has been enacted by a senior police officer in each year since the Act came into force.

Tony McNulty: Available information on stops and searches under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 from 1995 to 2004-05 of persons or vehicles can be found in table PB of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 'Arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE, 2004-05 England and Wales', given in the following table. It is also available on the web at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2105.pdf.
	Information for 2005-06 will be available later in 2007.
	
		
			  Table PB: Searches of persons or vehicles under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and resultant arrests 
			  Number 
			   Stops and searches in anticipation of violence in England and Wales 
			   Total searches  Number of persons found to be carrying offensive weapons or dangerous instruments  Arrests for offensive weapons  Arrests for other reasons 
			 1995 (from 10 April) 2,380 205 58 109 
			 1996 7,020 187 132 371 
			 1996-97 7,970 177 129 392 
			 1997-98 7,970 377 103 332 
			 1998-99(1) 5,500 213 91 84 
			 1999-2000 6,840 59 36 195 
			 2000-01 11,330 357 309 411 
			 2001-02 18,900 1,367 203 485 
			 2002-03(2) 44,400 1,568 356 2,142 
			 2003-04(3) 40,400 557 299 1,248 
			 2004-05 41,300 275 242 941 
			 (1 )Figures amended since publication of the 1998-99 Bulletin. (2 )Figures amended since publication of the 2002-03 Bulletin. (3 )Figures amended since publication of the 2003-04 Bulletin.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to extend early release provisions in order to alleviate prison overcrowding.

John Reid: I have no plans to do so. The National Offender Management Service is dealing with pressures on the prison estate by building more capacity. We will always ensure that there will be prison places for those serious, sexual and seriously persistent offenders who ought to be in prison.

Prisons: Visits

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits were received by  (a) male and  (b) female prisoners in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 29 March 2007
	Statistics on the number of visits to prisoners are not centrally collated and there is currently no national system for recording such data. Prisoners have a statutory entitlement to social visits and are also able to earn additional visits under the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Manpower

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serious crime agency officers are embedded in  (a) other law enforcement agencies and  (b) private organisations within the financial sector (i) within the UK and (ii) overseas.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			   UK  Overseas 
			 Other law enforcement agencies 32 23 
			 Private organisations 0 0

Young Offenders

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1460-1W, on young offenders, what steps his Department is taking to improve the accuracy of statistics recorded for breaches of  (a) supervision orders with conditions,  (b) curfew orders,  (c) community punishment and rehabilitation orders,  (d) community punishment orders,  (e) detention and training orders,  (f) reparation orders,  (g) action plan orders,  (h) attendance centre orders,  (i) supervision orders without conditions and  (j) drug treatment and testing orders; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 April 2007
	Although about 5 per cent. of breach data are reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) by the Crown Court, the rest covering magistrates courts are reported by either magistrates courts or police forces. Responsibility for processing, validating and disseminating the data rests with OCJR.
	A link between the new case management system for magistrates courts, being developed by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and OCJR, is replacing the current reporting systems employed by magistrates courts and the police.
	It is expected to provide the necessary improvement in the data supplied and will begin replacing data under those systems later this year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Heating

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the total cost of heating the buildings on the House of Commons estate was in each of the last three years; and what targets are in place for future years.

Nick Harvey: It is not possible to determine the total cost of heating the buildings on the House of Commons estate. All the buildings are heated by natural gas boilers which are not metered separately; the gas meters record total consumption for providing hot water services as well as heating. The approximate total gas consumption and cost for each of the last three years has been:
	
		
			   Consumption MWh  Cost ( million) 
			 2003-04 21.5 0.3 
			 2004-05 20.0 0.3 
			 2005-06 21.6 0.4 
		
	
	The increase in cost for 2005-06 is mainly due to significant increases in the unit price of gas in that year. Gas consumption reduced in 2004-05 and then increased in 2005-06; due to fluctuations in heating energy consumption caused by variations in outside temperatures measured in degree days. The following table shows the degree days for the Thames Valley region which includes London. From these figures a higher consumption would have been expected in 2005-06. That it was not so is due to the installation of more efficient Palace boilers in 2004.
	
		
			   Degree days 
			 2003-04 1,740 
			 2004-05 1,703 
			 2005-06 1,869 
		
	
	A target
	to reduce energy consumption measured in terms of kWh of fuel and electricity used per square metre of building floor area by 15 per cent. by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000
	is contained in the Energy and Water Saving Policy adopted by both Houses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Community Relations

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what organisations applied for funding under the community relations core funding scheme 2007-10; and which organisations were  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful with their application.

Maria Eagle: The Department of Education received 59 applications. Twenty-six organisations were successful and are listed at A. Thirty-three organisations were unsuccessful and are listed at B.
	Point A lists the organisations that were successful in securing funding.
	 A
	Community Relations in Schools
	Panarts
	Bytes Project
	Children's Project NI
	Verbal Arts Centre (NI) Ltd.
	Youth Link
	Corrymeela
	Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
	School of Education (University of Ulster)
	NI Children's Enterprise
	Co-operation Ireland
	NIPPAEarly Years Organisation
	NUS/USI (National Union of StudentsUnion of Students Ireland)
	NI Council for Integrated Education
	Public Achievement
	Spirit of Enniskillen Trust
	Creggan Education and Research Services
	Belfast YMCA
	Kilcranny House
	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
	REACT
	Nerve Centre
	NI Children's Holidays Scheme
	National Trust
	Forthspring Inter-Community Group
	Harmony Community Trust (Successful after Appeal)
	Point B lists the applications that were unsuccessful.
	 B
	Forward Learning
	Lurgan YMCA
	Dun Uladh Ltd.
	Christian Education Movement
	Tides Training
	Armagh City and District Council
	Youth Action (NI)
	YMCA Ireland
	Speedwell Trust
	Playhouse
	Belfast Activity Centre
	Horizon Project (Ireland) Ltd.
	Churches Peace Education Programme
	Challenge for Youth
	Northwest Centre for Learning and Development
	Playing for Peace
	Junction
	STEER Mental Health Organisation
	Boys' Brigade
	All Set Cross Cultural Project
	REACH Across
	Brownlow Campus Trust
	Cumann Gaelach Chnoc na Rs
	Ulster Wildlife Trust
	Keady and District Youth Steering Group
	Scout Association (NI)
	Downpatrick/Listowel Linkage Group
	Common Purpose
	Kilkeel Parish Bridge Association Ltd.
	SEEDS
	Council for Education in World Citizenship (NI)
	St. Aloysius, Harmony Hill and St. Joseph's PS
	St. Patrick's Centre

Community Relations

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations appealed the decision not to grant funding under the community relations core funding scheme 2007-10; and which organisations were  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful with their appeals.

Maria Eagle: The organisations listed as follows appealed the Department's decision not to grant funding under the community relations core-funding scheme 2007-10:
	Forward Learning
	Lurgan YMCA
	Tides Training
	Armagh City and District Council
	Harmony Community Trust
	Christian Education Movement
	The Horizon Project (Ireland) Ltd.
	St. Patrick's Centre.
	Harmony Community Trust was the only group to make a successful appeal.

Community Relations

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the members are of the  (a) decision making group and  (b) appeals panel for the community relations core funding scheme 2007-10; and why each was appointed.

Maria Eagle: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Advisory Panel Members (Decision Making Group)
	Mrs. Phyllis RichardsonChairperson, Community Relations Branch, Department of Education
	Mr. James PeelYouth Advisor, South Eastern Education and Library Board
	Ms Frances McCandlessNorthern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
	Mr. Paul JordanCommunity Relations Council
	Mr. Walker EwartEducation and Training Inspectorate, Department of Education.
	 (b) Appeal Panel Members
	Mrs. Louise Warde HunterChairperson, Head of Policy, Research and Youth Division, Department of Education
	Mr. Richard HodgettEuropean Funding Unit, Department of Education
	Ms Geraldine McGreevySenior Youth Officer, Belfast Education and Library Board.
	Members of both the Advisory and Appeals panels were appointed on the basis of their experience of community relations education and youth sectors and knowledge of funding and accountability requirements.

Fly Tipping

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the Irish government on the police investigation into an incident in County Tyrone in February 2004 when a journalist found briefing papers originating from the Irish Department of Justice at an illegal dump.

Peter Hain: There have been no representations received from the Irish Government in relation to this incident.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact on pharmacy practice planning of clawing back sums for multiple dispensing of prescription items.

Paul Goggins: The Department recently withdrew its intention to reduce the multiple dispensing fee for 2006-07 and reinstated the rate of all fees to their former levels for 2006-07, pending the outcome of further negotiations with the Pharmaceutical Contractors' Committee (PCC). The February claw-back has therefore been reversed and repaid to pharmacies in the March monthly payment.
	Negotiations recently concluded will result in an increase in the pharmacists' main dispensing fee from 1.04 to 1.11 per item for both 2006-07 and 2007-08. This will mean a further arrears payment shortly for those 2006-07 prescription items already processed by the Central Services Agency.
	Recent discussions with PCC have led to meaningful progress towards resolution of multiple dispensing and medicines management issues, with both parties agreeing to look urgently at this issue as part of the ongoing negotiations on the new pharmacy contract.

PRIME MINISTER

Former Ministers: Business Interests

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it a requirement that former Ministers wishing to take up appointments subject to scrutiny by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments within two years of leaving office must seek clearance from that body.

Tony Blair: Guidance for Ministers on the acceptance of appointments after leaving ministerial office is set out in the ministerial code.

Minister Policy Advisers: Autobiography

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the merits of requiring former Government advisers to submit draft manuscripts of their memoirs to the Secretary of the Cabinet for comment and approval.

Tony Blair: The requirements placed on former civil servants, including special advisers, in relation to the publication of memoirs are set out in section 4 of the Civil Service Management Code.

Ministers: Codes of Practice

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy for oversight of the ministerial code to be vested in Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Section 1 of the Ministerial Code sets out the lines of accountability.

Petitions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many petitions on the Downing Street website have so far been  (a) received,  (b) approved and  (c) rejected;
	(2)  what the average time is to approve or reject a petition request for the Downing Street website.

Tony Blair: Information on e-petitions is available on the No. 10 website (http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Pagell051.asp). A copy of this web page has been placed in the Library of the House.

Public Sector: Standards

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what recent steps he has taken to foster and promote the public's trust in those in public life.

Tony Blair: The Ministerial Code was last updated in July 2005. In March 2006 I appointed Sir John Bourn KCB as independent adviser on Ministers' interests. I have renounced my right as Prime Minister to nominate individuals directly for honours and announced an independent review of party funding, which has now concluded. A new Civil Service Code was also issued last year.
	In addition, this Government were the first to publish a Ministerial Code, the document Travel by Ministers, a model contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers as well as annual lists of travel by Cabinet Ministers and gifts given to Ministers.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Biofuels

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of biomass to the security of energy supply to the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The potential contribution of bioenergy towards the Government's energy policy and climate change objectives was reported on by the Biomass Task Force in October 2005 and in the Government's Response to the Task Force published in April 2006.
	The Government are expecting to publish a UK Biomass Strategy in May 2007. The Biomass Strategy outlines how our policies on biomass for industry, energy and transport jointly operate to provide a clear, coherent and co-ordinated framework for the development of biomass as a whole and identifies the challenges to delivery.

Business Link

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the regionalisation of Business Link.

Margaret Hodge: Decisions concerning the operational delivery arrangements have been devolved to the regional development agencies (RDAs) who have carried out full consultation with local stakeholders on delivery arrangements.
	However, any proposals by RDAs in awarding contracts for the delivery of Business Link branded service are subject to clearance from the DTI's Secretary of State by submitting their proposals to the Central Project Review Group (CPRG) process. CPRG is used to establish value-for-money during the process of awarding contracts. CPRG consists of representatives from DTI, HM Treasury and the Small Business Service.
	I apologise for the delay in responding. This was due to an administrative error.

Businesses: EC Countries

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what methods of finding a business partner in another EU member state for the purposes of an application under the European Research and Development Programme are open to UK businesses.

Malcolm Wicks: The European Commission provides, through its well-established CORDIS service, a free on-line partner search service to help organisations find research partners, either in the context of specific EU-funded R and D projects or broader searches for technology-oriented partnerships. This service can also be used by organisations to advertise project ideas, partnering needs and expertise requirements. The service can be accessed at:
	http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/partners_en.html
	The European Union's R and D Framework Programme also funds a number of thematic-specific databases, including:
	SMEs go Health which offers profiles of SMEs and research institutes interested in becoming involved in Framework Programme research projects, as well as partner searches of research consortia looking for SME partners.
	Ideal-ist Partner Search Facility provides helps find partners for ICT project ideas.
	NAoMITEC helps SMEs interested in micro and nano technologies by supporting them in joining R and D projects.
	In addition, the European Commission occasionally organises brokerage events in certain areas of the Framework Programme.
	UK organisations can also contact the relevant UK Framework Programme National Contact Point who should be able to help identify potential partners. Details of these contact points can be found on the UK Framework Programme website at:
	http://www.fp7uk.dti.gov.uk/

EC Energy Policy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the EU on establishing a common energy policy across all 27 member states.

Malcolm Wicks: The formation of a common EU energy policy was agreed by Heads of State and Government at the Hampton Court informal summit, during the UK presidency of the EU in 2005. Since then, the formation of a common EU energy policy has been discussed at:
	the December 2005 European Council, attended by the Prime Minister,
	the March 2006 Energy Council, which I attended as Energy Minister;
	the March 2006 European Council, attended by the Prime Minister;
	the June 2006 Energy Council, which I attended as Energy Minister;
	the June 2006 European Council, attended by the Prime Minister;
	the October 2006 informal European Council, held at Lahti, Finland, attended by the Prime Minister;
	the November 2006 Energy Council, attended by Lord Truscott;
	the December 2006 European Council, attended by the Prime Minister; and
	the February 2007 Energy Council, attended by Lord Truscott.
	In addition, the Secretary of State, Lord Truscott and I have had numerous bi-lateral meetings with our opposite numbers around the EU and with the Commission.
	At the spring European Council, 8 to 9 March 2007, Heads of State and Government discussed the Strategic Energy Review, published by the Commission on 10 January 2007, and adopted an Energy Action Plan.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department is making available to small businesses on compliance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has made extensive efforts to inform all industry, including small businesses, of the requirements of this directive since its publication in the EC's  Official Journal in February 2003.
	These have included, most recently, the publication in February this year of Government Guidance Notes clarifying the obligations that will be brought into force from 1 July 2007. The Department also ran a series of roadshows across the UK in January and February this year, specifically targeted at small and medium-sized businesses, and is continuing dialogue with a number of organisations representing the small business community, including the Federation of Small Businesses and RETRA (the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association).

Energy Technologies Institute

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria will be taken into account in selecting the  (a) location and  (b) partners for the Energy Technologies Institute.

Malcolm Wicks: Research organisations across the UK were invited in January to provide information on energy-related research capacity, capabilities and resources and to indicate any interest in hosting the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) director and support staff. The submissions are being considered by representatives of the industrial and public sector funding partners who will prepare initial advice for the ETI Board, once legally established, and the director, once appointed, to consider in detail and to follow up as appropriate. Decisions will be a matter for the ETI itself. The key criteria being used to assess the submissions to host the ETI director are:
	Reputation and culture: in particular, a world class reputation for research and development across a range of energy themes; and strong existing industrial and academic relationships, with sustained collaborative working and networking track record;
	Space, facilities and location: including ability to expand to provide a suite of office/conferencing facilities commensurate with the developing needs and aspirations of the ETI, thus providing a showcase for the ETI; with good communications and access;
	Commitment to support and promote ETI; and
	Value for money.
	An update will be available on the ETI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/science/science-funding/eti/ shortly.
	Once specific research and development programmes have been determined by ETI, the selection of research partners will be based on those best equipped to undertake the programmes.

Enterprise Week

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the cost was of  (a) creating and  (b) running the Enterprise Week website in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006 to date;
	(2)  what the cost was of  (a) creating and  (b) running the Make Your Mark campaign website in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006 to date.

Margaret Hodge: The information is as follows.
	www.starttalkingideas.org is the website of Enterprise Insight's Make Your Mark campaign, and includes the dedicated Enterprise Week sub-pages, accessible by the URL www.enterpriseweek.org Enterprise Insight have advised that separate figures for the Enterprise Week sub-pages are not kept, as they come under the contract for the main website.
	They also advise that the total costs for creating the campaign website were:
	
		
			
			 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 139,516 
			 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2006 156,947 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 December 2006 88,007 
		
	
	The total costs for running the campaign website were:
	
		
			
			 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 100 
			 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2006 916 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 December 2006 6,166 
		
	
	I apologise for the delay in responding. This was due to an administrative error.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households were allocated grants under the low carbon buildings programme in each month from May to November 2006.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
	
		
			   Number of households allocated grants 
			 May 2006 121 
			 June 2006 349 
			 July 2006 573 
			 August 2006 499 
			 September 2006 392 
			 October 2006 1,071 
			 November 2006 1,050

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received by the Low Carbon Buildings programme since 2006.

Malcolm Wicks: Since the launch of the Low Carbon Buildings programme in April 2006, we have received 6,331 applications to date. The breakdown of this is as follows:
	
		
			  Stream  Number of applications 
			 1AHousehold 6,020 
			 1BCommunity 112 
			 2ABusiness, public sector, non-profit ( 100,000 grants) 190 
			 2BBusiness, public sector, non-profit ( 1 million grants) 9

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Wales

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications to the Low Carbon Buildings programme have been  (a) made and  (b) granted in Wales, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: For the Low Carbon Buildings programme, we only hold statistics for specific areas in Wales as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Area  Number of applications  Number of grants 
			 Anglesey 1 1 
			 Cardiff 23 16 
			 Cardigan 1 1 
			 Carmarthenshire 7 6 
			 Ceredigion 4 1 
			 Clwyd 35 30 
			 Denbighshire 2 1 
			 Dyfed 91 83 
			 Flintshire 2 1 
			 Glamorgan 2. 1 
			 Gwent 36 32 
			 Gwynedd 54 47 
			 Mid Glamorgan 21 19 
			 Monmouthshire 1 1 
			 Pembrokeshire 8 7 
			 Port Talbot 1 1 
			 Powys 112 103 
			 South Glamorgan 14 11 
			 Swansea 19 15 
			 Torfaen 1 1 
			 West Glamorgan 10 9

Natural Gas: Greater London

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information the Government hold on the condition of London's gas mains; what estimate he has made of the funding necessary to improve conditions; how much is being spent on improvements; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not retain information on the condition of London's gas mains.
	However, on 26 March, Ofgem published its gas distribution price control review fourth consultation document which contained some relevant information. National Grid gas distribution is forecasting that it will spend 332 million (in 2005-06 prices) on mains replacement between 2008-09 and 2012-13 in its north London network as well as an additional 158 million on associated service replacement. Scotia is forecasting that it will spend 521 million over the same period in its south England network as well as an additional 384 million in associated service replacement.
	This document sets out Ofgem's consultants' initial recommendations on whether this level of spend was efficient. Ofgem will be publishing their initial proposals on the appropriate level of expenditure for each gas distribution network for 2008-09 to 2012-13 at the end of May.

Natural Gas: Pipelines

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will allow National Grid to consult on all sections of the new national grid natural gas pipeline complying with section 2 of the Public Gas Transporter Pipeline Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999.

Malcolm Wicks: Regulation 10 of the 1999 Regulations requires an application to be advertised and a period given for representations to be made to the Secretary of State.

Ofgem

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of Ofgem's performance in fulfilling its duty to have regard for the interests of low-income consumers; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the Gas Act 1986 and the Electricity Act 1989, as amended, the Authority is required, in carrying out its functions, to have regard to the interests of, among others, individuals with low incomes. While the DTI does monitor the overall performance of the energy market and its regularity framework, Ofgem's accountability for its performance against its statutory duties is to the Public Accounts Committee.

Renewable Energy: Grants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants were made to domestic households in England for renewable energy in each month since April 2006; and for how many days in each month those grants were available.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 29 March 2007
	The Low Carbon Buildings programme phase 1 was launched in April 2006. The following table shows the grant commitments to householders and the number of days that grants were available in each month since the scheme was launched.
	
		
			   Grant commitments  Number of days grants available 
			 May 2006 121 31 
			 June 2006 349 30 
			 July 2006 573 31 
			 August 2006 499 31 
			 September 2006 392 30 
			 October 2006 1,071 31 
			 November 2006 1,050 30 
			 December 2006 344 18 
			 January 2007 263 12 
			 February 2007 199 1 
			 March 2007 192 1 
		
	
	In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further 6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than 18 million.
	Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped.

Small Businesses

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, column 637W, on small businesses, what estimate he has made of  (a) the total number of businesses in the UK and  (b) the total number of businesses in the UK which are categorised as family businesses.

Alistair Darling: holding answer 16 April 2007
	The DTI produces estimates of the number of businesses in its small and medium enterprise statistics publication. At the start of 2005 there were 4.3 million businesses in the UK.
	The DTI in its annual small business survey defines a family business as one majority owned by members of the same family. The 2005 survey found that 65 per cent of all small and medium-sized enterprises were family businesses, which equates to 2.8 million businesses in the UK.

Small Businesses

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, column 637W, on small businesses, what estimate he has made of the total percentage of UK gross domestic product which is derived from the activities of family businesses.

Alistair Darling: holding answer 16 April 2007
	It is not possible to provide precise estimates of the total contribution of family businesses to UK gross domestic product from statistical data on the business population.
	However the DTI Annual Small Business Survey 2005 indicates that 65 per cent. of all small and medium-sized enterprises are family businesses. Based on this proportion we would expect family businesses that are also small and medium-sized enterprises to contribute around 220 billion in gross value added to the UK economy.

Solar Power

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for solar power to contribute to the energy mix over the next five to 15 years; and what policies he has to maximise solar heat and solar electricity production.

Malcolm Wicks: The Energy Saving Trust undertook a study on behalf of the DTI (Potential for Microgeneration: Study and Analysis)http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/index.html that examines the potential of all microgeneration technologies to contribute to the energy mix over the next 45 years.
	The Government's Microgeneration Strategy (published in March 2006)http:/www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/strategy/page 27594.html sets out a number of measures aimed at promoting microgeneration technologies, including solar power. The Code for Sustainable Homes and the Building a Greener Future consultation (both published in December 2006 by Communities and Local Government Departmenthttp://www,communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l503251) contain measures that should further promote microgeneration.

TRANSPORT

Road Haulage

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has considered to reduce the transportation of goods by road; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department provides grant funding for rail and water freight where appropriate. In 2005-06 we provided over 23 million that have removed 840,000 lorry journeys from the roads. The Government also promote efficiency within the road sector through the Freight Best Practice and other programmes.

School Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage more sustainable school transport.

Gillian Merron: The Government are promoting sustainable school travel and transport through the Travelling to School project, supported by more than 100 million funding up to 2008. Our stated objective is for all schools to have an approved school travel plan by 2010. In addition, the Education and Inspection Act places a duty on local authorities to promote sustainable travel to school to all children and to increase the free home to school transport provision for children in low-income families.

Railway Stations

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations are expected to receive Access for All funding.

Tom Harris: We have announced 92 stations in England and Wales that we expect Network Rail to improve up to 2011 and are developing the list of stations that will be included in the programme between 2012 and 2015.
	Work at more than 500 other stations has been approved up to March 2008 under the Access for All small schemes programme. There will be further rounds of bidding each year until at least 2015.

Public Transport: Overcrowding

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being considered for the alleviation of public transport overcrowding.

Gillian Merron: The Government are tackling overcrowding on public transport through a combination of investment in additional capacity and improved use of existing capacity.

Railways: Overcrowding

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding on the railways.

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ease congestion on trains.

Tom Harris: We will continue to increase capacity through the franchising process and in other ways. In particular, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 14 March that the High Level Output Specification, to be published in the summer, will include a commitment to a thousand extra carriages. They will be targeted at the most congested routes on the network.

Rail Infrastructure

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on improvements to rail infrastructure.

Tom Harris: I have regular discussions with the chief executive of Network Rail over a range of issues including infrastructure improvements. Departmental officials are continually engaged with the company over the development and implementation of enhancements to railway capacity and performance.

Train Services: Shropshire

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Office of the Rail Regulator on train services in Shropshire.

Tom Harris: Department for Transport officials have had several meetings with counterparts from the Office of Rail Regulation concerning the emerging track access requirements of both franchised and open access train operators, in the light of the ongoing competition for the new cross country and west midlands franchises, and the application for access rights made by the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone open access railway company.

Railway Usage

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a benchmarking exercise to assess railway usage in the UK against other EU member states.

Tom Harris: A range of comparative information is collected at European level and the Department draws on this in the development of its policy. We have no plans to undertake any specific exercise to benchmark rail demand.

Environmentally Friendly Vehicles

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage motorists to choose more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government have introduced fiscal incentives for consumers to buy cleaner vehicles. A communications campaign currently provides advice on purchasing cleaner vehicles and on fuel efficient driving. The Government have also supported the car fuel economy label helping consumers make informed choices when buying a new car.

Train Services: Disabled Passengers

Shahid Malik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in providing more accessible trains for disabled passengers.

Tom Harris: Over 4,500 new fully accessible train carriages comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, which were introduced in 1998. This represents over a third of the national heavy rail fleet. In addition, improvements to the accessibility of almost all older trains are made when their interiors are refurbished.

Cycling

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which second round Local Transport Plans (LTPs) include commitments to support Government policies on cycling; and to what extent the inclusion of such commitments has influenced the Government's assessments of LTPs and the resulting funding allocations.

Gillian Merron: The guidance offered by the Department to local authorities on the preparation of the second Local Transport Plans included many references to cycling policies, and authorities were required to include a target on cycling trips in their plans. With one minor exception, every plan proposes to increase or stabilise levels of cycling locally.
	The assessments of LTPs considered evidence that the plans addressed the problems and opportunities across the full range of transport modes, including cycling. A detailed technical note on the method of assessment and the implications for funding can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/capital/ltpsettle06/

Cycling: Accidents

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of cyclist fatalities involving heavy goods vehicles.

Stephen Ladyman: There were 24 cyclist fatalities involving HGVs during 2005, which is 33 per cent. fewer than the average for 1994-98. The Highway Code advises drivers and cyclists how to avoid these casualties. The Department's leaflet 'Drive Safe Cycle Safe' also encourages drivers and cyclists to share the road safely. RoSPA has produced a DVD on safety for cyclists and lorries, funded by the Department.

Departments: Lobbying

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued on the conduct of relations between lobbyists and  (a) officials and  (b) Ministers in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Ministers and civil servants act in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code. Detailed guidance on contacts between civil servants and lobbyists is set out in the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, which is in the Libraries of the House and on the Cabinet Office website.

Heathrow Airport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether account is being taken of the impact of the planned Colnbrook incinerator in the assessment of pollution levels at Heathrow Airport if a third runway is constructed, with particular reference to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.

Gillian Merron: The modelling of future third runway scenarios at Heathrow takes account of industrial emissions in the surrounding area. We are advised that the new Colnbrook incinerator is unlikely to have a material impact on emissions around Heathrow but detailed emissions data for the new plant are being obtained in order to confirm the position.

Heathrow Express Line

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department has undertaken to investigate a second line on the Heathrow Express to St. Pancras.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport has not carried out any work on this proposal.

London Airports: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of emissions of oxides of nitrogen attributable to aircraft landing and take-off was at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick and  (c) Stansted airports in each year since 1995; what forecasts have been made of future such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: All of the data requested are not readily available. At Heathrow, over 1997 to 2004 there has been no significant trend in the contribution of on-airport sources of NOx which varied between 80 and 100 microgrammes per cubic metre. BAA figure indicates that in 2002, there were 3,780 tonnes of NOx from aircraft during landing, take-off and up to 1,000m. The Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow (PSDH) is currently modelling and forecasting future emissions for Heathrow and we will be consulting on this later in the year.

Pedestrian Crossings

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes have been completed under the Highways Agency's non-motorised user crossings programme.

Stephen Ladyman: To date, the Highways Agency has completed investigations at 188 crossing points for non-motorised users and has delivered appropriate works. All of these sites were identified within the non-motorised user crossings programme.

Pedestrian Crossings

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget is committed for the non-motorised user crossings programme in the 2007-08 financial year; and which schemes are expected to be completed in that year.

Stephen Ladyman: Non-motorised user crossings improvements are delivered as part of larger schemes within the Highways Agency's programme of road improvement works. As such, costs that are specific to non-motorised user crossings improvements are not recorded separately.
	The following table lists sites from the non-motorised user crossings list, published in October 2003, that are currently forecast to be addressed during 2007-08.
	
		
			  Region  HA area number  Route  Location 
			 East 6 A12n Denmark Road/Katwijk Way 
			 South East 4 A21 Holy Trinity 
			 South East 4 A23 Tilgate Forest Row 
			 South East 4 A27 Selmeston to Alciston 
			 East 8 A428 Eltisley B1040 to Biggleswade 
			 East Midlands 8 A43 Brackley South Roundabout South Crossing 
			 East 8 A5 Little Brickhill Bypass 
			 East Midlands 8 A5 Pottersbury Village 
			 South East 5 M25 Almners Road Overbridge 
			 North East 14 A19 Moor Farm Roundabout 
			 East Midlands 7 A52 South Stapleford 
			 West Midlands 11 M6 Madeley 
			 South West 1 A35 Winterbourne Abbas (scheme 66) 
			 South West 1 A38 Doublebois 
			 South West 1 A36 Old Inn, Kilmington 
			 South East 3 A31 Snells Corner H/A3/3/300 
			 South East 3 A34 Forge Farm H/A34/120

Railways

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many railway lines selective door opening is running.

Tom Harris: All modern rolling stock produced in the last 10 years, including Pendolino, Voyager, Meridian, Adelante, Electrostar, Turbostar, and Desiro trains, has a facility for selective control of door opening. Nationally this represents over 1/3 of the UK rolling stock fleet.
	The Train Operating Companies use this facility wherever short platforms make it necessary on the lines over which these trains operate, and I have deposited a current list of these lines in the House Library.

Railways: Bicycles

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to support proposed European legislation that would require facilities for bicycles on all European trains.

Tom Harris: The UK supports the Common Position reached by the Council and Commission on the International Rail Passengers' Rights and Obligations proposal. This does not mandate facilities for bicycles on all European trains, recognising the limitations of space on some services, particularly during peak hours.

Railways: Freight

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to meet the Secretary of State for Communities, Local Government and the Regions to discuss the planning regime in respect of Railfreight Interchanges following introduction of the Government's proposed Planning-Gain Supplement (Preparations) Bill.

Tom Harris: I have no plans to seek a meeting with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities, Local Government and the Regions on this issue. However, officials from both Departments will shortly be meeting with representatives of the Railfreight Interchange Investment Group to discuss issues relating to the planning regime in respect of railfreight interchanges, including the potential introduction of a Planning Gain Supplement.

Railways: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) percentage and  (b) actual change he expects there to be in numbers of seats on (i) peak and (ii) off-peak services from Milton Keynes Central from January 2009.

Tom Harris: Once the examination of bids for the new west midlands franchise has been completed and new timetables for the Virgin West Coast trains (incorporating additional stops) have been further refined it will be possible to provide a full response. I anticipate that train operators will be able to provide accurate details later in the year.

Railways: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) fast,  (b) semi-fast and  (c) slow trains he expects to be available per hour from Milton Keynes during (i) peak and (ii) off peak times when the platform upgrade at Milton Keynes station is completed.

Tom Harris: The basic pattern of services will consist of three fast Virgin West Coast trains an hour northbound from Milton Keynes Central and two fast services an hour southbound. The exact pattern of services on the semi-fast and slow services will remain broadly unchanged but is dependent upon the bids submitted for the new west midlands franchise. I expect the operator of this franchise and Virgin West Coast trains to provide full details later this year to passengers and stakeholders.

Railways: West Midlands

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans the new west midlands rail franchise operator to be announced.

Tom Harris: The new west midlands rail franchise operator is expected to be announced during summer 2007.

Rolling Stock

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what value of  (a) rail vehicles and  (b) carriages are expected to be delivered in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) the Control Period 4 (2009-14), broken down by  (A) (1) manufacturer and (2) franchise on which they are expected to operate and  (B) (x) orders already in place and (y) future planned orders.

Tom Harris: It is too early to comment on the deployment, value and orders of the additional rolling stock.
	The deployment of new rolling stock will be agreed with the industry following the publication of the High Level Output Specification and the long-term rail strategy this summer.
	The rail industry will respond to the HLOS in October 2007 with proposals for delivering the sought extra capacity.

Rolling Stock

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail vehicles and carriages  (a) on order and  (b) expected up to 2014 will be (i) replacement vehicles for existing rolling stock and (ii) additional rolling stock which will add to the total potential loading capacity of the rail network.

Tom Harris: It is too early to predict how many of the existing fleet of approximately 11,400 rail carriages will be replaced by 2014. I can, however, re-iterate the Government intention to commit to contracting with train operators for 1,000 additional carriages by 2014. This will form part of the capacity sought in the rail High Level Output Specification to be published in July and will be in addition to any carriage replacements.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there were in each police authority area in 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not hold this information, but does have the information for the areas covered by the Safety Camera Partnerships. The following table shows the number of fixed and mobile camera sites that are recorded as having been established in 1997.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Avon and Somerset 74 
			 Bedfordshire 9 
			 Cambridgeshire 8 
			 Cheshire 8 
			 Cleveland 1 
			 Derbyshire 18 
			 Devon and Cornwall 22 
			 Dorset 29 
			 Essex 18 
			 Gloucestershire 21 
			 Greater Manchester 38 
			 Hampshire 1 
			 Hertfordshire 11 
			 Kent and Medway 12 
			 Lancashire 29 
			 Leicestershire 6 
			 London 182 
			 Mid and South Wales 2 
			 Norfolk 4 
			 Northumbria 22 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 
			 South Yorkshire 24 
			 Staffordshire 41 
			 Surrey 11 
			 Sussex 13 
			 Thames Valley 185 
			 West Mids 24 
			 Wiltshire 4 
		
	
	The National Safety Camera Programme ceased on the 31 March and the response represents data held as at that date. Future operation and deployment of safety cameras will be under the control of local partnerships, which will be better able to supply up-to- date information.

Walking: Pupils

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to extend Walking to School initiatives.

Gillian Merron: The Government are funding over 3,000 schools to increase walking to school: 1,903 schools to set up and sustain a walking bus and 1,328 to set up and sustain an alternative walking initiative, following my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport's announcement of 22 November 2006. More than one in six primary schools in England chose to apply and were eligible for the grant. The House and schools were informed of the allocations for 2007-08 on 26 March.
	The successful schools will be eligible for further grants in 2008-09 and 2009-10 if they deliver the modal shift from car to walking that their head teachers promised and they have a reasonable expectation that this will continue.

Wolverton Station: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date the grant of 400,000 for the upgrade of Wolverton station must be spent.

Tom Harris: The grant, provided through the Community Infrastructure Fund, must be used by 31 March 2008.

TREASURY

Crossrail Line: Finance

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects to take a decision on the funding of Crossrail as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.

Edward Balls: Crossrail funding and financing issues will be considered further in the context of Sir Michael Lyons' recommendations and wider spending pressures and priorities. However, the affordability challenge represented by the scheme remains significant.

Departments: Secondment

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which NHS trusts his Department received secondees in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The Sunderland teaching primary care trust seconded an employee to the Treasury during 2006. No other NHS trusts have seconded an employee to the Treasury in the last five years.

EC Budget

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EU budget items allow spending on information campaigns targeted at journalists.

Edward Balls: The information published by the Commission does not detail for all EC budget lines whether these include spending on information campaigns targeted at journalists.
	Chapter 16 02 of the 2007 EC budget entitled 'Communication and Media' does allow spending on communication with the media. This chapter is made up of budget lines 16 02 02 (Multimedia Actions), 16 02 03 (Information for the Media) and 16 02 04 (Operation of Radio and Television Studios and Audiovisual Equipment).

EC Budget

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by the EU on special annual events (budget item 15 06 06) in each of the last five years; what the money was spent on; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The information published by the European Commission on budget line 15 06 06 details the outturn on special annual events in 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002. In 2005 the outturn of payment appropriations was 2,900,000, in 2004 it was 1,725,000 and in 2003 3,729,325.18. There was a nil outturn for payment appropriations under this line in 2002. Outturn figures are not yet available for this line for 2006, but commitment appropriations were set at 5,500,00 and payment appropriations at 5,000,000.
	These appropriations were designed to support special annual events. These have included, inter alia: the European Year of Mobility for Workers; the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome; the European Union campaign for democracy; the 15th Mediterranean Games and the 25th Anniversary of the Solidarity movement in Poland.

EC Budget

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by the EU on European Political Foundations (budget item 15 06 07); what the money was spent on; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: This budget line is new in the 2007 EC Budget. Commitment and payment appropriations were set at 1,000,000. These appropriations are planned to cover the cost of activities carried out by European political foundations such as: observing, analysing and contributing to the debate on European public policy issues; European seminars, conferences and studies on these issues among stakeholders; and creating a European framework to facilitate collaboration between political foundations and academics.

EuroGlobe Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) objectives and  (b) costs are of the EuroGlobe programme.

Edward Balls: EuroGlobe is an initiative of the European Parliament. This pilot project aims to provide a European public space fostering debate about: Europe and European culture; and political participation and learning. Both commitment and payment appropriations for the EuroGlobe project were set at 1,500,000 in the 2007 EC budget.

European Communities Interinstitutional Centre

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) assets and  (b) costs to the taxpayer are of the European Communities Interinstitutional Centre at Overijse; how many people use it; what facilities it has; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The European Communities Interinstitutional Centre at Overijse does not have a budget line in the 2007 EC Budget and its exact cost is therefore not detailed in the 2007 EC Budget document. The budget of the centre is met by the Commission's general administration budget. The Government do not hold details of the centre's assets, the number of the people who use the centre, or information on the centre's facilities.

European Union: Citizenship

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) objectives and  (b) costs are of the EU pilot project to promote active European citizenship; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: No appropriations have been entered into the budget line 15 06 01 for the 'pilot project in favour of citizenship' in the 2007 EC Budget. Its budget was set at 500 000 for both commitment and payment appropriations in the 2006 EC budget. The objective of this pilot project was to prepare the launch of the new 'Citizens for Europe' programme, starting from 2007, through which the Commission aims to reduce the gap it perceives between citizens and the EU.

Local Government Finance Funding Changes Independent Inquiry

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of the Lyons Review on local government finance.

John Healey: The Lyons Inquiry is estimated to cost about 1.76 million. In addition, 464,637 of funding has been provided by the Government for research commissioned by the Inquiry.

Parliamentary Questions

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1319W, on parliamentary questions, on how many occasions this advice has been given in the last 12 months.

John Healey: The Treasury provides guidance to Departments as and when the need arises. Comprehensive records are not maintained of the number of occasions that advice is given.

PRINCE Programmes

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the purpose is of the PRINCERole of the European Union in the World programme; what its target audience is; what activities occur in the UK under the programme; whether public relations consultants are employed under the programme; what input his Department has into the programme; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The budget line 'PRINCERole of the European Union in the World' funds information and communication activities directed towards the citizens of the EU and European Neighbourhood Policy countries. Its aim is to explain the EU's external actions activity to citizens.
	There have been no activities conducted in the UK under this budget line and HM Treasury has no input into this programme. DG RELEX has employed external contractors to help with the logistics and organisation of its seminars, visits to third states, and in developing publications and its website.

PRINCE Programmes

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the objectives are of the PRINCEInformation and Communication Strategy (EU budget item, code 22 04 01); what its target audience is; what activities occur in the UK under the programme; whether public relations consultants are employed by the programme; what input his Department has to the programme; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: PRINCEInformation and Communication Strategy (budget line 22 04 01) is a European Commission programme which funds information and communication activities on priority EU policies. The aim of the programme is to facilitate an effective dialogue on enlargement between European citizens and the EU institutions. Target audiences include the general public, youth groups, the media, opinion leaders and rural populations.
	HM Treasury has no input into this programme. We understand that the Commission has funded several seminars in the UK. HM Treasury does not hold information on public relations consultants employed by the Commission in support of the aforementioned activities.

PRINCE Programmes

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the UK is taking under the EU  (a) PRINCE-Euro and  (b) PRINCE programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: PRINCE is made up of a number of budget lines which include: EuroPRINCE; PRINCEArea of Freedom, Security and Justice; PRINCEInformation and Communication Strategy; and PRINCERole of the European Union in the World.
	PRINCEEuro is a European Commission information programme aimed at informing European citizens of matters relating to the introduction of the euro. The UK Government policy is to join the euro if Government, Parliament and the people, in a referendum, all agreed that it would be the right thing to do. In advance of any such decision, the UK is not undertaking any communication activities funded by this programme.

Public Expenditure: NHS

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last discussed the NHS budget with the Secretary of State for Health and the chief executive of the national health service.

Stephen Timms: The Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly meets with the Secretary of State for Health to discuss a range of issues.

Small Businesses: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the Budget on small businesses in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The latest published information(1) shows that in 2005 there were around 115,000 small businesses in Northern Ireland. The small business tax reforms announced at the Budget will reduce the differential between incorporated and unincorporated small businesses and refocus investment incentives. The self-employed will also be impacted by the announced changes to the personal tax system, including a reduction of the basic rate of income tax to 20p.
	Any small business in Northern Ireland that invests will benefit from the introduction of the new Annual Investment Allowance, which allows 100 per cent. of capital expenditure up to 50,000 to be offset against the business's tax liability.
	In addition, the Budget announced a new Northern Ireland innovation fund for jobs and industry to be available to the restored Northern Ireland Executive.
	(1) Small Business Service data

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost of processing Child Support Agency cases  (a) electronically and  (b) clerically was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Unfortunately the information is not available in the format that you have requested.

Child Support Agency: Debt Collection

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been referred to debt collection agencies by the Child Support Agency in the last 12 months; how many of these resulted in the successful collection of the debt; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 17 April 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the secretary of state promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases have been referred to debt collection agencies by the Child Support Agency in the last 12 months; how many of these resulted in the successful collection of the debt; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency signed contracts with two debt collection agencies on 7(th) July 2006 and began transferring cases to these agencies in August 2006. By the end of February 2007 almost 24,000 cases had been transferred to these agencies and some or all of the debt had been collected in 3,895 of these cases.
	The total amount collected by the debt collection agencies by the end of February 2007 was around 1.1 million. A letter sent by the Agency to inform clients that their debt is to be transferred to the external debt collection agencies had also resulted in an additional 795,000 collected by the Agency by the end of February 2007.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his letter of 3 October 2006 to the hon. Member for Totnes, reference PO5(4)10535/99, what progress he has made in his consideration of the current rules that allow the Child Support Agency to ignore the earnings of members of the Territorial Army.

James Plaskitt: My officials continue to look at this matter and are considering whether it is appropriate to make suitable amendments to existing Child Support legislation. All matters in relation to maintenance assessments, including the scope for further simplification, are being reconsidered as part of the consultation on the White Paper, A New System of Child Maintenance. The period of formal consultation ended on 13 March and we are currently analysing the responses received.

Children: Maintenance

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers the Child Support Agency has to pursue a non-resident parent who moves overseas to  (a) an EU state and  (b) a non-EU state.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 17 April 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what powers the Child Support Agency has to pursue a non-resident parent who moves overseas to (a) an EU state and (b) a non-EU state.
	The Child Support Agency retains the power to pursue a non-resident parent who moves overseas, only where the non-resident is regarded to be habitually resident in the UK. The criteria for establishing Child Support jurisdiction when a non-resident parent leaves the United Kingdom is described at Section 44 of the Child Support Act. There is no distinction made between an EU state and a non-EU state.
	There are certain cases where the nature of employment will bring the non-resident parent under the jurisdiction of the Child Support Agency, for example those employed in the Civil Service or a member of the naval, military or air forces. The Agency may also have jurisdiction where a non-resident parent is employed by a company that is prescribed in Child Support (Maintenance Arrangement and Jurisdiction Regulations) 1992, Regulation 7A(2).
	If the non-resident parent is not regarded as habitually resident in the UK, then the Agency has no power to pursue. However the courts may be able to help the parent with care in obtaining ongoing child support maintenance, whether there is already a court order or not. The Department for Constitutional Affairs in the UK is responsible for the administration of reciprocal enforcement arrangements with more than 100 countries and territories.
	Once an application is sent to the foreign authorities it will be dealt with according to laws and procedures of that country. The UK has no control over how long that process will take but will periodically check on the progress of a case with the foreign authorities.
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases the Child Support Agency has where  (a) the non-resident parent (NRP) lives in Scotland and the parent with care (PWC) lives in England and  (b) the NRP lives in England and the PWC lives in Scotland.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 17 April 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases the Child Support Agency has where (a) the non-residential parent (NRP) lives in Scotland and the parent with care (PWC) lives in England and (b) the NRP lives in England and the PWC lives in Scotland.
	Information regarding the region of residence of NRPs and PWCs in cases with an assessment or calculation is published in table 25 of the December 2006 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary Statistics, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library, or on the internet via the following link: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa_quarterly_dec06.asp.
	However, this is not a complete picture because it does not include cases without an assessment or calculation. Information on both types of cases is included in the following table.
	It should be noted that we do not have the information requested for some cases:
	Those cases without an assessment on the old computer systemaround 29,000 cases.
	Cases without an assessment on the new computer system where the region of residence for the PWC, the NRP or both is not yet knownaround 38,200 cases.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Country of residence of non-resident parents and parents with care, December 2006 
			  Number of cases where  With an assessment or calculation  Without an assessment calculation  Total 
			 NRP lives in Scotland, PWC lives in England 11,800 1,100 12,900 
			 NRP lives in England, PWC lives in Scotland 13,900 1,500 15,400 
			  Notes: 1. New-scheme cases being processed clerically are excluded from this analysis. 2. Cases have been allocated to government office regions through matching the postcode for a residential against the Office for National Statistics postcode directory. 3. This table relates to cases. Therefore, individuals included in more than one case are included multiple times. 4. In December 2006 there were around 67,200 cases where we do not have information on the region of residence. This was made up of: 29,000 cases on the old computer system that did not have an assessment or calculation; 38,200 cases on the new computer system which had either not yet reached the point in the process at which details on the region of residence of the parent with care could be identified, or where the region of residence for one or both of the NRP and PWC was unknown. 5. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred.

New Deal Schemes: Self-employed

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of customers who will participate in the new deal self- employment programme in 2007-08; and how many did so in each of the previous three years.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to him on 23 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1184-86.

Pensioners

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will put in place a national strategy for older people.

James Purnell: The national strategy for older people and an ageing society: Opportunity Age, Meeting the challenges of ageing in the 21(st) century was launched in March 2005. It focuses on promoting independence and well-being in later life, extending opportunities to work in later life, supporting healthy active ageing in our communities and giving older people more choice and independence in how they use the services at their disposal. The strategy celebrates the fact that people are living longer lives and highlights the valuable and increasing contribution that older people make to our society.
	Already, much has been achieved. We have made major reforms of policies (including the biggest package of reform on pensions since the Second World War); started modernising services around the needs of the customer, including through a wide range of pilot programmes such as Link-Age Plus, Individual Budgets, and PoPPs. We have significantly increased spending for older people (on pensions and benefits, health, care, free bus travel, winter warmth).
	Incomes of pensioners have increased broadly in line with those in work; and for the first time ever in a period of sustained economic growth, pensioners are now no more likely to be living in poverty than people of working age. Older people's well-being has improved across a broad range of indicators.
	The strategy also addresses the needs of the baby boomer generation by helping them make the right choices to ensure retirement is a time of opportunity: by tackling age discrimination; ending the cliff edge from work into retirement; and helping them to balance work and caring responsibilities.

Pensions

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be used to ensure that funds invested by the proposed Delivery Authority for the personal accounts scheme will be invested in the best interests of its members.

James Purnell: The personal accounts Delivery Authority will not operate the personal accounts scheme and, as such, will not invest members' contributions. The Delivery Authority's role will be to set up personal accounts prior to any members joining the scheme.
	As with existing defined contribution occupational pension schemes, trustees will be responsible for the investment of members' contributions in accordance with existing legislation, including the requirement to act in the members' best interests.
	Policy relating to investment choices for personal accounts is under development and will be presented in the second Pensions Bill currently planned for introduction later this year.

Pensions: Regulation

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration was given to the potential effect of additional funds to be invested in financial markets during the production of the regulatory impact assessment for the Pensions Bill.

James Purnell: The Pensions Bill does not introduce measures which will directly lead to additional funds being invested in the financial markets. Because of this the Pensions Bill regulatory impact assessment does not specifically consider the effect of increased investment.
	The Government will publish a further regulatory impact assessment looking at personal accounts when the second Pensions Bill is published.

Vocational Training: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) support,  (b) assistance and  (c) re-training opportunities are available to people in Hartlepool who live in (i) neighbourhood renewal areas and (ii) non-neighbourhood renewal areas for (A) improving skills in manufacturing and (B) other areas.

Jim Murphy: Jobcentre Plus in conjunction with its partner organisations locally provides a wide range of support, assistance and re-training opportunities across the whole of Hartlepool. This includes basic skills training, mentoring and occupational training.
	In addition some wards in Hartlepool have recently been given Deprived Area Fund (DAF) status and these areas match with neighbourhood renewal areas. DAF will give the Tees Valley District Manager more flexibility to deal with local employability issues by enabling the implementation of tailored support or provision to suit local circumstances.